Safe Surfing
Some Advice
- NEVER accept/open a file that is sent to you from a dubious or unknown source. It may contain a virus.
- ALWAYS make sure that your computer is virus free. Scan it with up-to-date virus-checking software - malicious users can send out viruses which will alert them to your presence when you are connected to the internet, and allow them access into your machine while you're online.
- NEVER give out confidential information about yourself on e-mail or in a chatroom (such as bank details, passwords, telephone number, address). If any legitimate company needs this information, they will ask for it as part of a registration process, and will never ask for it on e-mail or in a chat. You should always check a company's privacy policy before submitting any information or subscribing to any service on the web.
- ALWAYS use a reputable ISP (Internet Service Provider) to connect to the internet. There are many free ISPs around, which provide a very good service, but it may be that you can pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited surfing. Ensure that you are getting the best deal and are using an ISP that is right for your needs.
- NEVER download and run components or browser plugins (additions to your browser to enable you to access special content) if their security certificate is not valid or recognized.
- ALWAYS be aware if you have an 'always on'/cable/ADSL connection - these sorts of connections should be protected with a personal firewall. There are some available for free download on the internet, and will prevent unauthorized access into your machine as described above.
- NEVER give out personal details such as your address and telephone number in a chatroom, or arrange to meet someone by yourself, regardless of how friendly a fellow chatroom user is. It is very easy for a person to pretend to be someone they are not in a chatroom on the internet - treat all chatroom conversations with caution.
- ALWAYS surf sensibly - if you are not the one that pays the bill, remember that you can become engrossed when surfing, and what seems like a few minutes can turn into a few hours. If this is the case, perhaps an ISP that offers a flat monthly fee might be better suited to your needs.
Top Tips for Data Security
- NEVER let a stranger have access to your computer unsupervised. This is an easy way for an unauthorized person to get hold of confidential files, or for someone to load a virus onto your computer (wittingly or unwittingly!).
- ALWAYS backup your data regularly. Whether it be a complete professional backup or your entire system for a work environment, or a simple copy of a few important files onto a CD or floppy from your home computer, you will be safe in the knowledge that come what may, your important files are safe. All it takes is a virus hit or a power surge to harm your computer, and then that backup will come in very handy!
- NEVER open an e-mail attachment or file from an untrusted/unknown source - it may contain a virus. Also, be wary of attachments that come from what is normally a trusted source, there are viruses around that can send themselves to a users whole address list, so they may not even know they've sent it. If in doubt, delete it out.
- ALWAYS use up-to-date 'anti-virus' software and a 'firewall'. This will help stop anything harmful penetrating your computer system and stop hackers getting in.
- NEVER send or give out things like bank details or passwords on e-mails or in chatrooms. Even if the source you are sending them to is trusted, e-mails are not generally protected, and can be intercepted. Some companies use 'encryption' to protect important mails, which can only be 'decrypted' by the intended recipient - this scrambles the e-mail and reconstructs it at the other end, making any intercepted copies useless to the interceptor.
- ALWAYS log-off or 'lock' a computer before leaving it unattended, especially if it is within full reach of the general public, such as a sales desk in a shop. If you have logged onto your network, and then walk away, anyone can use the system as if they were you, and gain access to files or do malicious damage. Screensaver passwords are often a good way of making sure the computer is protected - you can set them to start up when there is no activity for a specified period of time, and then to get back into the system, a password must be typed. This cuts down the chances of an opportunist gaining unauthorized access.
- NEVER use pirated software, or copies of a licensed piece of software. Not only is this illegal, but can also increase your susceptibility to viruses and Trojan horse attacks, as pirated software is often from dubious sources.
- ALWAYS alert the police if you think you have been hacked - online crime is very real, and taken as seriously as any other sort of crime. As soon as you become aware of the hack, contact the police immediately. This is imperative as your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may have information to help investigate the hack as they keep logs of all their activity, but because of the vast amount of data, they only keep it for about three days. After this time, the logs are lost and most hopes of tracing the hacker are lost too.
- NEVER write down your usernames and passwords to electronic resources on bits of paper. A password is there for security to prevent unauthorized users gaining access to a resource, and should therefore be treated as you would treat a PIN number to your bank account.
Useful Links
If you'd like further information on or help with Online Crime, please check out some of the links below:
Criminal Justice System Advice Sheet
Please view the following Victims of Crime information sheet (PDF format) created by Criminal Justice System aimed to provide support and advice to victims of crime
Leaflets and Information
The Home Office web site offers information on a variety of Crime Reduction matters, including statistics, policies, advice and published material.