Technology tip of the week: How can I stay safe online?
How to stay safe online is one of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to technology for people of all ages. There are many security programmes, so you should never have any reason to feel insecure.
Here are just a few tips to help and reassure:
- Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defences against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
- Automate software updates: Many software programs will automatically connect and update to defend against known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that’s an available option.
- Make passwords long and strong: Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to create a more secure password.
- Have separate passwords for every account you create. It may get confusing but it is the best form of protection. Also, write them down and keep it safe in a secure place away from your computer.
- When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or if appropriate, mark as junk email.
- Protect your £££: When banking and shopping, check to be sure the sites is security enabled. Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://”, which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. “Http://” is not secure.
More helpful tips here:
