Be safe online
With so many of us connected to the Internet via laptops, smartphones and other devices, the threat from personal cybercrime (where an individual is targeted, not an organisation) has never been greater. Yet there are simple ways that we can protect ourselves online:
Get your password right.
Your password is your first line of defence against a cybercriminal, so make it a strong one. The strongest passwords are long (ideally 16 characters or more), combine upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. It should not contain consecutive or repeated letters or numbers, or the word “password”.
Making your password a meaningful phrase will help you to remember it while making it impossible to guess. For example: !2023Sav1ngIsGr3at! Don’t include any of your personal information in your password, such as your phone number, or any information that a cybercriminal could find on social media – such as your pet’s name.
If your device has a password manager, use it. They use strong, industry-standard encryption to protect your personal information. Using them also means that you won’t have to remember your passwords and if cloud based, your password manager can be used across multiple devices.
Never use the same password across accounts or sites, because if a cybercriminal cracks one, they will have access to everything. Never, ever share your passwords with anyone.
Update your computer and device security.
Cybercriminals use known flaws in software to gain access to systems. That’s why it’s important to install security updates promptly when notified - ideally within a few days. They will often contain security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities and new security features.
Where possible, enable automatic updates on your devices. If you can’t do that, then make sure that you update your operating system, web browser, any office apps or document readers, and anti-virus products (if you're using one).
Check if websites are secure.
The URL (website address) on secure sites always starts with ‘https://’, where the ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’. For example, Al Rayan Bank: https://www.alrayanbank.co.uk. On these sites it is safe to type in information like your name, and address.
If the site’s URL begins with ‘http’ then it is not secure. Do not share any of your personal information.
Think before you click.
Never click links embedded in emails or texts, especially unsolicited ones. Go to the website directly to login instead. This includes downloading information from unknown sources.
Never share your personal information.
Never give your sensitive data to anyone. This includes your passwords, PIN, card details, bank account details, three-digit security numbers, online banking username and passwords or telephone banking security passwords.
Talk to your kids about cybercrime.
Nearly all British children went online in 2021 (99%); the majority used a mobile phone (72%) or tablet (69%) to do so. That’s why it’s important to share these tips with your children. Also let them know they can come to you if they are experiencing any kind of online harassment, stalking, or bullying.
Report cybercrime.
Reporting cybercrime quickly will increase the chance of recovering your money, or in the case of identity theft, mitigate the effects. It could help in tracking down and apprehending the perpetrator, and help protect others.
If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it immediately to ActionFraud, the National Fraud & Cybercrime Reporting Centre. Visit their website to report a crime with their online tool or speak to their advisors via webchat. You can also call them on 0300 123 2040.
Al Rayan Bank takes online safety very seriously. We’ve written a series of tips showing you how to keep safe online – which we update regularly to make sure we keep you informed – that you can find by clicking here.
