TAKE 5 seconds for Cyber Security

Have you ever clicked on a web link and thought, Wait, is this safe? We've all been there!

Cyber security can be an intimidating topic to think about, but we don't need to be afraid - we just need to be informed.

1. Stop, think, is it expected?

When you receive an email, especially an email with an attachment you need to:

Stop - do you recognise who the email is from?

Think - does the email look legitimate? Look out for spelling mistakes and typos! Is there a link or an email attachment that doesn’t look quite right? Or even if it does look legit, think about whether you really need to click on it!

Is it expected? - Whether it may be from your bank, amazon or the post office. Are you expecting an email from them? Why are you receiving this email and is this something you need to open?

2. Don’t open attachments in emails

Unless you are certain they are genuine, don’t open email attachments. A common way that computers get infected by malware attacks and other forms of cybercrime is via email attachments in spam emails.

3. Keep a secure password

We all want a password that’s easy to remember, but often that can pave the way for cyber fraud. Implementing a strong password will help prevent it from being guessed or hacked by criminals. Cyber news recently published the top 10 passwords - is yours here?

• • 123456
  • 123456789
  • qwerty
  • password
  • 12345
  • qwerty123
  • 1q2w3e
  • 12345678
  • 111111
  • 1234567890

Other common password features include birth years, names of people and pets, sports teams, place names, seasons and food.

So, if you use any of these in your passwords you should pause reading here and go and change it!

If you are worried about using a stronger password for fear of remembering it, there are lots of password managers available that will help you with this. These will then store all of your passwords, so you don’t have to remember them.

4. Keep software and operating system updated

IT cyber security is vital and keeping your software and operating systems updated ensures your computer will be protected. If you have Technical Drive’s managed cyber security services we will do this for you as part of our service.

5. Use anti-virus software and keep it updated

Using anti-virus or a comprehensive internet security solution like Technical Drive’s managed cyber security services will ensure that you stay protected from cyber fraud scams.

Anti-virus software allows you to scan, detect and remove threats before they become a problem. Having this protection in place helps to protect your computer and your data from cybercrime, giving you peace of mind.

If you use anti-virus software, make sure you keep it updated to get the best level of protection.

Hackers don’t discriminate against age, location, or business size. If you’re online, you’re at risk. But don’t panic, we’re here to help!

Whether you have already been hacked by cyber criminals or have seen that cybercrime is on the increase and want to start protecting yourself, you are in the right place.

If you would like to discuss how Technical Drive can help you, please get in touch.