Guidelines for Using The Internet (Websites and Email) Safely and Securely
If you follow basic security advice, the Internet can be very safe and secure.
1)
Software Protection - It is highly recommended that you use anti-virus, anti-spyware,
anti-spam, a personal firewall and keep Windows updated.
2)
Email Attachments - Before opening attachments:
a) Be sure that you know the person who has sent you the attachment
b) Check the type of file attachment (e.g. jpg, .doc)
c) Scan the attachment for viruses.
3)
Emails Requesting Personal & Financial Information (Phishing Emails) - Your bank, Internet Service Provider (ISP) or any security conscious
company will never request any password or account login details, bank or other financial details, or any security sensitive information in an email. Do not
respond to such email requests even though they may appear to be genuinely from the company. These emails are spoof mails sent by fraudsters
using companies you trust to attempt to retrieve personal information. If in doubt, call the company that claims to have sent the email to check that
the email is genuine.
4)
Sharing Information Over The Internet - Be wary of sharing personal or sensitive information with strangers you meet over the Internet.
5)
Internet Cafes - If you log in to any personal Internet-based accounts at an Internet Cafe (e.g. email, bank account), ensure that you
log out of all your accounts and CLOSE all browser windows before leaving the PC.
6)
Credit Cards & Bank Accounts - There are 3 basic rules to follow for making online purchases with credit cards or bank accounts:
a) Assign one and only one credit card and bank account for making purchases on the Internet
b) Ensure that the credit limit (or available cash) is not too high so that the your maximum exposure is limited
c) Routinely review the statements for this credit card and bank account.
7)
Suspected Fraud - Report any suspected abuses of your personal information to the company which has been spoofed and to
the
Internet Crime Complaint Centre.
