What can you do to make sure you're safe online?
Here are a few basic rules that, if followed, will help you to stay safe online:
- Install a good antivirus software, firewall and spyware application.
- Ensure that you always keep up-to-date with all of your software updates.
- Avoid free software.
- Avoid accessing any personal accounts from public computers.
- Do not follow a link from an email to enter personal information.
- Keep yourself informed of the latest trends in online scams.
- Use a trusted legitimate Internet Service Provider.
- When entering sensitive personal information online ensure that the page is secure (a padlock in the bottom right corner of the page or https at the start of the web address) with a valid certificate (check the page properties by right clicking on the page).
- Always type carefully – ensure the accurate web address appears in your browser window.
- Use a strong password (at least 7 characters, upper and lower case, letters and numbers) and change it regularly.
- Obtain a copy of your personal credit file from a credit reference agency on a regular basis. Look out for entries you don’t recognise.
Use the menu to the left of this page to gain access to more detailed information on some of the different types of online scams and viruses currently in existence.
