Staying safe online
State benefits
Who's more likely to be targeted?
Does this look like you or someone you know?
Keeping yourself click safe
Did you know: by 2020 there will be roughly 200 billion devices connected to the internet - that's a lot! And it's not just computers or phones; these days cars, TVs and even fridges can be hooked up to the internet.
That's why it's more important than ever to keep yourself safe online. Here are a few handy hints to help:
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Creating a secure password
Choose something that's easy to remember, but hard to guess. Make it a mix of numbers and upper and lowercase letters - even add in some punctuation. The longer it is, the harder it is to crack. Try out a passphrase, for example drink8Fish$sky!beans.
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Check your privacy settings on social media
Check your privacy controls on your social media account and set them up so only your friends and family can see your full details or keep them completely private. If on Facebook, simply head to Settings, Security and Login or Privacy.
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Installing the right virus protection
Antivirus software will help detect and remove malware (viruses), so if you don’t already have one installed, make sure you invest in one soon. If you use Microsoft Windows 7 or later, then you should have a free antivirus already installed called Windows Defender. Alternatively select one from a well-known, trusted company, like Norton Antivirus.
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Keeping backups
One of the most important things you can do is to back up your data in different places. This includes your most important documents, pictures, and anything that you have stored online that is important or of sentimental value to you.
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Keep your apps and systems up to date
Yes, it can be a hassle to update your operating system and apps - but it's extremely important to keep your systems up to date as they usually contain updates to fix vulnerabilities that hackers look to exploit. According to US-CERT, 85% of cyber-attacks are preventable by making sure you have the latest operating system and app updates on your devices.