Be Safe Online
As some of you may know it is Movember at the moment and I am, along with a few people in my work, rocking a pretty rubbish moustache for the cause. I asked my mum to donate and she txt me a few hours later saying she didn’t want to put in so many details online and would give me money instead.
So I thought I’d have a look around a write up a quick list on how to be safe online. Mostly so I can show my mum and tell her she should be alright!
- Don’t give out too much personal information on social networking sites. Identity thieves will have a field day if they find out your address, D.O.B and some other details.
- Don’t fall for obvious scam sites and dodgy looking adverts. You probably haven’t won $1 million.
- Check out the site you are trying to buy from, does it have a real contact address and phone number?
- Check the billing forms are encrypted.
- Internet banking is awesome but always check you are on the correct encrypted site.
- A bank should never ask for your password so ignore any phonecalls or emails asking for it.
- Use separate log ins/banks for your current accounts and savings accounts so if one gets hacked they don’t have access to all your money.
- If you are using a shared computer make sure you clear the cache and cookies when you have finished and never click to remember log ins.
- Install a firewall.
- Install a good and trusted anti-virus.
- Lastly, if you encounter anything suspicious alert your bank as soon as possible!
The part about not linking your accounts together is a big one for me because I have only just sorted that out after I read about some unlucky guy who had one of his accounts hacked and they managed to find all his accounts including his current account in Ireland that was somehow attached and they took everything! Hopefully he had insurance or something!
