02/03/2022
5 tips to stop Cybercrime
With cybercrime on the rise, here are a few tips to help keep you safe online.
π± Choose a word and then adjust it slightly for each website. For example, if you choose 'seaside21', it would be 'goo_seaside21' for google.com, or 'fac_seaside21' for facebook.com. Makes it much more difficult for hackers to guess and use your password across multiple platforms.
π±Always click on the arrow next to the senders name to check the email address an email came from. Often the hackers will use a common 'name' but the email will be completely different, or the company name spelt wrong. Still not sure? Search the company website on google and compare the contact email. It should have the same domain name (after the @).
π± Make sure your computer security is up to date. All laptops have built in malware and virus protection now, but you may wish to add your own on top of this. Make sure you keep your computer updated as these updates contain all the new known virus protections. They happen about once a month, normally the second tues/wed for microsoft. Chrome can be more often.
π± Have you done a quiz on facebook, a 'what's your superhero name' or 'which dog are you'? These can be used by hackers to get the information they need to hack your accounts. Ensure your social media settings are set to private and be mindful of the questions you are answering. Your mothers maiden name will not tell you your superhero name!
π± Check the web address. Any sites that you use a password for should have https:// at the start. The S at the end of http stands for 'Secure'. If it is not there, don't enter your details and double check you are on the right website.