Top tips for staying safe online

Top tips for staying safe online Top 15 internet safety rules and what not to do online

Make sure your devices are secureWith up to 60% of people using mobile devices for shopping and finding information onli...
26/10/2023

Make sure your devices are secure
With up to 60% of people using mobile devices for shopping and finding information online, instead of a desktop, it’s important that they are secured correctly. With all your devices – phones, computers, tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, etc. – it's good practice to use passwords or passcodes and other security options like fingerprint readers or face-scanning technology. These measures will reduce the likelihood of a cyberattack or your personal data being stolen by hackers.

In fact, it's best to avoid opening untrusted emails at all. If you’re not sure whether an email is legitimate or not, g...
26/10/2023

In fact, it's best to avoid opening untrusted emails at all. If you’re not sure whether an email is legitimate or not, go directly to the source. For example, if you receive a suspicious email from your “bank”, call your bank and ask them if the email is genuine.

When you’re on a website, make sure links click through to relevant or expected topics. For example, if you click on a link that you think is about safaris in Africa, but instead you're taken to a clickbait-style page about celebrity weight loss or a “where are they now?” style piece, then quickly close the page.

A careless click can expose your personal data online or infect your device with malware. That’s why it's essential to b...
26/10/2023

A careless click can expose your personal data online or infect your device with malware. That’s why it's essential to browse consciously and avoid certain types of online content – such as links from untrusted sources and spam emails, online quizzes, clickbait, ‘free’ offers or unsolicited ads.

If you receive an email that you're not sure about, avoid clicking on any links in it or opening any attachments.

Many of us accept privacy policies without reading them, but with so much data used for marketing and advertising (and h...
26/10/2023

Many of us accept privacy policies without reading them, but with so much data used for marketing and advertising (and hacking) purposes, it's a good idea to review the privacy policies of websites and apps you use, in order to understand how your data is collected and analyzed. However, bear in mind that even if your settings are set to private, very little data online is totally private. Hackers, website administrators and law enforcement could still have access to the information you regard as private.

6. Review your privacy settings and understand privacy policiesMarketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. ...
26/10/2023

6. Review your privacy settings and understand privacy policies
Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage. But you can take charge of how much information third-parties can access. Both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings to protect your privacy online. Social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, amongst others, have privacy-enhancing settings that you can activate. It’s worth taking a while to review your privacy settings across the board and make sure they are set to a level you are comfortable with.

5. Check that websites look and feel reliableFor any website you visit, especially ones you transact with (such as e-com...
15/10/2023

5. Check that websites look and feel reliable
For any website you visit, especially ones you transact with (such as e-commerce sites), it's crucial that they are reliable. A key element to look out for is an SSL/security certificate. This means, lookout for URLs that start with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP” (the “S” stands for “secure”) and have a padlock icon in the address bar. Other trust signals include:

Text which is free from spelling and grammar mistakes – reputable brands will make an effort to ensure their websites are well-written and proofread.
Images that are not pixelated and fit the screen's width correctly.

4. Keep software and operating systems updatedDevelopers are constantly working to make products safe, monitoring the la...
15/10/2023

4. Keep software and operating systems updated
Developers are constantly working to make products safe, monitoring the latest threats and rolling out security patches in case of vulnerabilities in their software. By using the latest versions of your operating systems and apps, you will benefit from the latest security patches. This is especially important for apps that contain payment, health or other sensitive information about a user.

Multifactor authentication decreases the likelihood of a successful cyberattack. To make your online accounts more secur...
15/10/2023

Multifactor authentication decreases the likelihood of a successful cyberattack. To make your online accounts more secure, it’s a good idea to implement multifactor authentication where possible. You can also consider using a third-party authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, to help with your internet security.

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that asks users to provide two or more verification methods...
15/10/2023

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that asks users to provide two or more verification methods to access an online account. For example, instead of simply asking for a username or password, multifactor authentication goes further by requesting additional information, such as:

An extra one-time password that the website's authentication servers send to the user's phone or email address.
Answers to personal security questions.
A fingerprint or other biometric information, such as voice or face recognition.

Long – made up of at least 12 characters (ideally more).A mix of characters – upper-case and lower-case letters plus sym...
15/10/2023

Long – made up of at least 12 characters (ideally more).
A mix of characters – upper-case and lower-case letters plus symbols and numbers.
Avoids the obvious – such as using sequential numbers (“1234”) or personal information that someone who knows you might guess (or that might already be online), such as your date of birth or a pet’s name.
Avoids memorable keyboard paths.
Using a password manager can help. Password managers help users create strong passwords, store them in a digital vault (which is protected by a single master password) and retrieve them when logging into accounts online.

2. Choose strong passwordsPasswords are one of the biggest weak spots when it comes to cybersecurity. People often choos...
10/10/2023

2. Choose strong passwords
Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots when it comes to cybersecurity. People often choose passwords that are easy to remember and, therefore, easy for hackers to crack with hacking software. In addition to this, using the same password for multiple sites puts your data at further risk. If hackers obtain your credentials from one site, they can potentially access other websites which use the same login details.

If you need to do any one of these, use a Virtual Private Network or VPN. A VPN will protect any of the data you send ov...
10/10/2023

If you need to do any one of these, use a Virtual Private Network or VPN. A VPN will protect any of the data you send over an unsecured network via real-time encryption. If you don't use a VPN, we recommend saving any personal transactions until you can use a trusted internet connection. You can find out more about what a VPN is here.

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