How to keep safe online
It will come as no surprise to Silversurfer readers that statistics from Ofcom show that the number of people aged 65 and over accessing the internet has risen by more than a quarter in the past year.
This has been driven by a three-fold increase in the use of tablet computers which are easier and more intuitive to use compared to traditional PCs. However, with this increase in use comes the issue of how to keep ourselves safe online.
It’s impossible to underestimate the impact of unsafe online behaviour; the cost to us, our families, friends and the wider community is enormous. Government research shows that a whopping 40 per cent of us have experienced a cyber-crime in the past year alone and last year there were nearly 60,000 cyber-related fraud reports, with an average loss of over £3,000 per incident.
To tackle this problem, a new cross-Government cyber security campaign, ‘Cyber Streetwise’, has been launched as a part of the government’s National Cyber Security Programme to show us how to up our cyber security and stay one step ahead of online fraudsters. There are five easy actions people can take in order to protect themselves and others from cyber-crime:
-
Using strong, memorable passwords
-
Installing anti-virus software on new devices
-
Checking privacy settings on social media
-
Shopping safely online – always ensuring to check online retail sites are secure
-
Downloading software and application patches when prompted
The most popular password is still ‘password’ making it easy for criminals to hack your accounts. The longest passwords of at least 10 characters are better. You could start with a line from the lyrics of a favourite song or a poem and then customise it in a way that’s relevant to you or your sense of humour.
It’s also easy to shop safely online when you know what to look out for. ‘Shop on reputable websites,’ says Doctor Sue Black, Founder and CEO of Savvify. ‘Only shop on sites that have a secure encryption, make sure the web address for the payment page starts with ‘https://’ instead of ‘http://’ – the ‘S’ stands for ‘secure’ – and don’t share any of your personal details on a page that’s not secure.’ Prioritising software updates is another simple action we can all take in the fight against cyber-crime
The website www.cyberstreetwise.com is a source of up to date information, resources and advice. As well as easy-to-digest information and downloadable content, there are interactive resources such as videos and quizzes to help us get to grips with our online security.
Visit www.cyberstreetwise.com
Cyber Streetwise can be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube:
www.facebook.com/cyberstreetwise
@cyberstreetwise
www.youtube.com/user/becyberstreetwise/videos
Join the conversation on #BeCyberStreetwise
Latest posts by Silversurfer's Editor (see all)
- Is the constant quest for equality eroding the archetypal gender differences? - July 18, 2017
- Fit for the Beach - July 17, 2017
- Heart Valve Disease Treatment: Minimally Invasive Surgery - July 16, 2017
- Is smartphone dependence a problem or just the way of the future? - July 15, 2017
- Win ONE of FIVE pairs of tickets to Chatsworth House and Garden - July 15, 2017
Leave a Comment!
Log in to comment
You need to be logged in to interact with Silversurfers. Please use the button below if you already have an account.
LoginNot a member?
You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!
JoinCommunity Terms & Conditions
Content standards
These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.
You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.
Contributions must:
be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.
Contributions must not:
contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.
Nurturing a safe environment
Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.
We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
I'm very pleased to see advice re: avoiding scams etc. and how to use the internet safely
Thanks very much.
Just remember if it sounds too good then it probable is ! I'm still waiting for my $8m to be transfered from the Central Bank of Nigeria, tough to be fair, I never knew I had an account with them 🙂