Cyber
Modern technology has revolutionised the way we live and work. We use mobile phones, tablets, and laptops every day to help us communicate, travel, and manage finances.
While the UK is one of the safest places in the world to go online, the risk of cyber attacks against individual people and businesses is high.
A cyber attack can lead to:
- Financial loss - for example, when money is stolen from a bank account
- Identity theft - when criminals steal personal data and use it to commit fraud
- Emotional stress including feelings of anxiety, fear, helplessness, and vulnerability
- Damage to a person or organisation's reputation
- Damage to relationships
Make sure you know how to spot an online scam or cyber attack and what to do when something just doesn't seem right.
People who are more at risk
Anyone who uses the internet or technology can be affected by cyber crime, but some groups are more at risk than others:
- People aged 16 to 24 are most likely to be victims of cyber crime
- Anyone less familiar with technology or common online scams
- Critical national infrastructure - like health, water, energy, and transportation services
- Businesses, state institutions, and political systems
How to spot a scam
One of the most common ways criminals try to steal your data, money, or install malicious software is through 'phishing'.
Phishing is where criminals trick people into sharing personal information - like bank account details or passwords.
Look out for emails, messages, websites or calls that:
- Create a sense of urgency by telling you to respond within a limited time
- Contain grammatical errors, incorrect spellings, or poor sentence construction
- Include links that don't match the organisation's website address
- Claim there is a problem with your account or payment information
- Ask you to confirm personal or financial information
- Include offers that seem too good to be true
Protect yourself online
Passwords
Passwords are an effective way to control access to your data, the devices you store it on, and the online services you use.
Use strong passwords
Create a unique, strong password that's hard to guess.
Use a combination of letters and numbers. Avoid using predictable passwords like dates or family and pet names - these are easy for criminals to guess.
The National Cyber Security Centre recommends using three random words to create a password.
Don't re-use passwords
Use different passwords for each of your accounts. This means if the password to one of your accounts is stolen, the criminals won't be able to access your other accounts.
Keep passwords safe
Consider using a password manager to help you create and store passwords.
Using browsers and apps to safely store your passwords (National Cyber Security Centre)
If you write your password down to help you remember it, keep it somewhere safe. Make sure it's out of sight and not near your computer.
Turn on two-step verification
Two-step verification (2SV) helps keep criminals out of your account, even if they have your password. It adds and extra layer of protection to your accounts by requiring a second form of authentication in addition to your password. It is sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA).
How to turn on two-step verification (National Cyber Security Centre)
Keep devices and software up to date
Device manufacturers and app developers will usually release regular software updates. These often include security patches and new security features to make it harder for criminals to target your device.
If you get a notification saying a software update is available, install it promptly - ideally within a few days.
How to keep devices and software up to date (National Cyber Security Centre)
Back up your data
Safeguard your most important data - like photos and important documents. Back them up to an external hard drive or a cloud-based storage system.
Keep your child safe
Knowing how to keep your child safe online can be daunting - but there is lots of support and guidance available to help you.
The Government's guidance for keeping children safe online explains:
- The types of harm a child may experience online
- Apps you can use to help keep your child safe online
- Support available for your child's mental health and wellbeing
You can also get advice on keeping your family safe online from the NSPCC.
Childline provide advice for children on staying safe online.
Protect your small business
The National Cyber Security Centre's Small Business Guide gives affordable, practical advice for improving cyber security. This includes:
- Backing up data
- Protecting your organisation from malicious software
- Keeping your smartphones (and tablets) safe
- Using passwords to protect your data
- Avoiding phishing attacks
Read more safety and emergency planning advice for businesses.
What to do if a cyber attack happens
If you experience an online scam or cyber attack, follow this guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre:
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