Cyber Awareness Month – As Viruses Develop So Do We, Here are Simple Ways To Stay Safe Online.

As Viruses Develop So Do We; here are Simple Ways To Stay Safe Online.

October is Cyber Awareness Month. Cyber security is a significant issue. UK Government statistics show that one in five businesses and individuals affected by cyber-attacks end up losing money. Viruses and hackers are getting smarter as the days go by, but fear not, so are we. Cyber Awareness Month encourages businesses and people to share tips on how to protect themselves against cyber attacks. Below are some of our key recommendations to keep you safe when online.

1. Set Strong Passwords

As discussed in one of our blogs (here), it’s essential to make sure nobody can guess your password. Passwords should be around eight characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. For more in-depth tips on how to strengthen your password visit our passwords blog.

2. Phishing Scams

Everyone at some stage has received a phishing scam. This scam is usually done through fraudulent emails claiming to be someone they’re not; usually a bank or government service. They try to trick you to click on a link to steal your login details and bank information. Although alarming, at first sight, it is pretty simple to spot these types of scams out. Look at the user’s email that has sent you the email before clicking any link to see if it seems valid –  this is an excellent place to start. As a last resort, if you want that extra level of safety, I recommend calling up your bank or whomever they’ve sent the email to check if everything is okay. 

3. Keep Security Updated

Updating your devices to have the latest security software will enable you to be well-prepared against any new viruses or threats. You do this by turning on automatic updates, so they are installed without you having to do anything.

4. Read The Privacy Policies.

Everyone has stumbled into the long page of privacy policies before, and I’m sure, like the rest of us, everyone has just clicked. Have a quick read-through if you are interested in seeing what type of information a company collects about you and where it gets shared. This will help you to feel more comfortable and aware of where your information is being shared.

5. Shop Securely

Before you make a purchase online, keep this in mind, check if the website you’re using has as after the initial “HTTP”. For example, if the web browser begins with “HTTPS”, this means that it’s secure. Another simple indication is the padlock icon near the address bar, which will indicate that the purchase should be safe.