How to protect yourself online

16 Apr 2015

Nowadays, so much of our everyday lives involve being on the internet, from checking a bus time table on a mobile phone to buying and sending an online gift for a friend. There are many joys and conveniences that come with being online, but how do you keep yourself safe?

Here, online expert, Leonie Smith (also known as the Cyber Safe Lady) offers tips on how to keep the fraudsters away when you’re on the internet.

1. Keep your passwords safe

“Keep your personal details like address, phone number offline. Create strong passwords with eight or more digits, numbers and capital letters and random words. Don’t use pet names, or birthdates or ‘12345’ or the word ‘password’ for your password.

“Make a unique password for each account. Save your passwords offline and off your computer, to a notebook or address book. Store safely.”

2. Be wary of connecting with strangers online

“Don’t connect with strangers online. Never meet with someone you have only met online without a friend or family member being with you.”

“Never send money to someone you don’t know offline, without being sure it is a legitimate transaction.”

3. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is

“Beware of amazing offers with heavily discounted goods. Don’t click on pop-up windows online with incredible offers, or competitions.”

4. Beware of unsolicited emails from institutions

“Don’t ever click a link to ‘verify’ your account login details from an unsolicited email sent to you from any institution. Always go to your accounts online via the usual way you would, via a bookmark or the website address.”

“Don’t click any link where the message says, something like, ‘Wow I just won $50,000. Here’s how you can too’. Don’t click links on emails or messages unless you are sure they are from someone you trust, and not a fake email.”

“To keep up to date with hoaxes, through www.snopes.com or via www.scamwatch.gov.au.”