Staying safe online

This article is to make you aware of some of the potential dangers of internet access. And how best to prevent being victim to online fraudsters and criminals.

Firstly I would like talk about phishing emails. Phishing emails are aimed to steal your identity by trying to catch you out and gather information from you. Scammers disguise themselves as trusted organisations and attempt to force you to reveal private details which usually are kept private.

These scammers will pressure you into giving your details by developing a sense of urgency and importance to their communication. Phrases such as “you are a winner, enter your details now to claim your prize” “your account is at risk enter your login details to confirm security” are classic lines which create a sense of anticipation to persuade you to give away your personal information.

These emails are usually detected by your email provider and must not be opened and deleted straight away. Do not download any attachments in the emails as these may aim to install malware on your computer to track your activity and gather your details.

Next is unsecure websites. Some websites are falsely created putting you at risk of exposing your personal details to fraudsters. Before inputting any details into a website double check the following:
1. The web address begins with https://
2. Look for the padlock symbol in the address bar.

Anti-virus protection
On the internet there a viruses which have keylogging ability. These viruses have the purpose of monitoring and recording every key you press on your computer keyboard. These nasty viruses capture what you type and record information which could possibly include; passwords, usernames and bank details.
To prevent these viruses simply download trusted anti-virus software such as avast.
Finally avoid using unsecured WiFi networks. These are more prone to cybercriminals and you should avoid entering any details as best you can.

It is difficult to identify genuine organisations that are asking for information. The best way to avoid potential fraudsters is for you to contact the organisations yourself rather than them contacting you and asking for information. Especially with regards to financial services, always speak directly face to face with banks and financial advisors.