It is more important than ever to ensure that you are doing everything that you can to stay safe online and protect your personal data. Did you know that there were 2.7m attempted frauds interrupted in 2021 and £1.3bn lost due to online fraud?
As the digital world increase and businesses become more and more digital it is critical that everyone is aware of the dangers that can be faced with being online.
With just a little bit of personal information, it is possible for them to then act as if they were you online to access private data and from there then they can use this to then either get money from the person who they got the data or even from their friends and family.
As part of cyber security month, we want to make sure that all of our tenants are aware of what precautions they can take to avoid losing their personal data and being a victim of fraud. Here are some of our top tips on what you can do to stay safe online.
1.Use different passwords for each account
It is easy to use the same password for all of your accounts as you do not want to forget which password you have used for what, however, if someone is able to obtain this password that would mean they then have access to every account where you have used this password which could include banking details! It is important to make sure that you are using different and strong passwords for each of your accounts so that in the event that someone is able to obtain a password they only have access to that one account and you can take action for this as soon as possible.
2. Think before you click
A standard method for personal data to be obtained is by sending malicious emails with a link that may appear to be for something that you are aware of and believe you can trust but is actually a malicious link, hiding the intent to steal your personal data. If you are unsure about an email or anything online that you think appears to be suspicious then do not click on the link, it is better to be safe than sorry. You can also use online tools such as https://www.emailveritas.com/url-checker to check a link before you click on it. Make sure to right-click and copy the like instead of clicking the link if you are looking to test the link.
3. Use two-factor authentication where possible
Two-factor authentication is a relatively new method of online security that is being more widely implemented. This is where something that you need to log in with your details will ask for another method to verify that it is you that is logging in, the most common of this being by sending a text message with a code to your mobile for you to then enter when you are logging in. While this can be an inconvenience this is a great method to ensure that your account will remain safe if you ever do lose your login details to someone then they will still not be able to log in unless they also get access to your second method of login. This is best to use for important accounts such as your bank or social logins.
4. Don't reveal your password
Never give away your password to someone that is asking for it even if it appears to be someone that you know. If someone is asking for your password it may be that they are using it for Fraud and an easy way that people are able to do this is by getting access to a person's personal details and then into their social logins. From there they can ask their friends and family for passwords to be able to obtain access to many different people's accounts and continue to do this to obtain either money or information to obtain money.
5. Always be wary of a scam
If something seems too good to be true then it usually is! however, if it is something that you need or have to use then always double-check first before giving away money or information.
You can also check to see if something is a scam or if you believe you have been a victim by using the free citizen's advice tool at the following link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam/
We hope these tips help you to stay safe online and keep your personal information to yourself!
