Cyber security is the means by which individuals and organizations reduce the risk of being affected by cyber crime.

Cyber security’s core function is to protect the devices we all use (smartphones, laptops, tablets and computers), and the services we access online - both at home and work - from theft or damage. It’s also about preventing unauthorized access to the vast amounts of personal information we store on these devices, and online.

Cyber security is important because smartphones, computers and the internet are now such a fundamental part of modern life, that it’s difficult to imagine how we’d function without them. From online banking and shopping, to email and social media, it’s more important than ever to take steps that can prevent cyber criminals getting hold of our accounts, data, and devices.

If hackers get into your device or accounts, they could access your money, your personal information, or information about your workplace or business.

• Separate Passwords

• Strong Passwords

• Saved Passwords

• Multi-Factor Auth

• Updates

• Backup

Use a strong and separate password for your email

Use a strong and separate password for your email
If a hacker gets into your email, they could:

• reset your other account passwords

• access information you have saved about yourself or your business

• Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess.

Using 3 random words is a good way to create a strong, unique password that you will remember.

You should also protect your other important accounts, such as banking or social media.

How to change your e-mail password?

• Google G-Mail

• Microsoft Outlook

• Yahoo

Gmail, Facebook, Twitter… it doesn’t matter what the service is, from time to time someone will find a way in.

If one of your accounts has been hacked, don’t worry, we have a step by step guide to help you regain control and protect yourself against future attacks.

If your device has become infected with ransomware, you are encouraged not to pay the ransom.

If you do pay:

• There is no guarantee that you will regain access to your data/device

• Your computer will still be infected unless you complete extensive clean-up activities

• Attackers may assume that you would be open to paying ransoms in the future

• You will be funding criminal groups

Personal credentials, such as usernames and passwords, can be stolen directly from you by criminals using tricks such as phishing emails. They can also be stolen by hackers from the services you use, if they suffer a data breach.

If you suspect either has happened, you should change your password as soon as possible.

If you have used the same password on any other accounts, you should change it there too.

Services such as www.haveibeenpwned.com can tell you if your information has ever been made public in a major data breach, and even alert you if it happens in the future.

If you believe your laptop, PC, tablet or phone has been infected with a virus or some other type of malware, there are steps you can take.

Scam emails, calls and texts are a problem for everyone. They’re getting more convincing day by day.

• Contact your bank or building society and speak to their fraud department.

• Your bank will not ask you to reply to an e-mail with personal information, or details about your account. If you contact them, use a phone number/email address you have found yourself, rather than one sent to you in the email – it may be false.

• You can check your credit reference file online. You should follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results.

• Read More: Please visit STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

Criminals can use publicly available information about you to make their phishing messages more convincing. This could be gleaned from your social media accounts.

To make life harder for the criminals, you can do the following:

• For your social media applications and other online accounts, review your privacy settings.

• Think about what you post (and who can see it).

• Change your phone number to be unlisted, or ‘ex-directory’.