Avoiding Scams and Online Attacks

Here are some key takeaways to consider to keep your devices and personal information safe:

Always keep your operating system, browsers, and applications up-to-date. Software updates often contain fixes for vulnerabilities that scammers can exploit.  

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your online accounts. This provides an additional layer of security by requiring a second piece of information beyond just your password. 
   
• Never click on unsolicited links, especially from unknown senders in emails or text messages. If in doubt, type the website address directly into your browser. Use a reputable password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. This ensures you are not using the same password across multiple sites. 
   
• Avoid sharing personal information on social platforms, including when you are travelling and even the name of your pet! Regularly review your privacy settings to control who can see your posts. Additionally, consider limiting friend requests to people you know personally and lock your friends list down to "only me". 
   
• Talk to family members, especially children, about the risks of online scams and the importance of not sharing personal information or clicking on suspicious links. 
   
• Only connect to known, secure Wi-Fi networks. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities like banking. 
   
• Regularly back up your data, so you don't lose important information in case of any malware attack. 
   
• Use a good antivirus program and ensure it's updated regularly. Before entering any personal or financial information, ensure the website is legitimate. Look beyond just the padlock icon; check the site's URL for misspellings, and consider verifying its legitimacy by searching for reviews or news about it. 
   
• If your device is connected to work (even to collect your email) or contains sensitive information, do not let your child use it to play games, watch TikToks etc. 
   
• Use strong screen passcode locks and regularly change them. 
   
• Never use your work or school email address to sign up for social media apps, and if you are a business owner or employer, keep your mobile device usage policy up to date.