Access to the internet has opened up a world of entertainment, opportunity and social interaction for everyone – but unfortunately, it’s also opened up new avenues for scammers and criminals, too.

The chances of being targeted by someone is thankfully relatively slim, and there are measures you can take to protect yourself and your family online. Read on for our expert guide to staying safe online.

Online safety 101

The internet gives us everything we could possibly need, right at our fingertips. From video-calling your family on the other side of the world, to having a fully stocked fridge without ever leaving your front door – the life-enhancing opportunities are almost endless. However, it’s important to keep our wits about us when we use the internet – cyber criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and software advances mean it’s easy to be taken advantage of online.

You could have money stolen or your personal details and sensitive information leaked to dishonest individuals. But don’t worry – there are some simple (and free!) things you can do to help you surf the internet safely.

Bank safely

Online banking is a great way to have instant control over your finances. Not only can you check your bank balance at any time on any device, you can also freeze a lost or stolen card instantly or change your personal details without having to trudge to the bank.

However, you should be extra careful when dealing with money online. Here are some key things to remember:

Make sure you’re using the official app for your bank

You can tell these apart from fake apps as they’ll have a large number of reviews, and they’re often the first to appear when searching on the Apple or Google Play store.

Never give anyone the login details to your online banking account

For minors, it may be important that parents know their password. And for those of us who are elderly or cared for, your carers may need access to your bank account to assist you, but they shouldn’t be accessing it without your knowledge and presence. Login details should never be left on display, or shared.

Shop safely

A good rule of thumb to remember when shopping online is if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Never purchase anything that’s offered to you in an unexpected email, or follow links that promise prizes, rewards or money. It’s likely that these are being used as a way to gain access to your personal details.

For additional protection, use a credit card for online purchases rather than a debit card. Credit cards often offer purchase protection, and if your purchase is £100 or more, the seller and the card company are equally responsible if anything goes wrong.

The best way to stay safe while shopping online is to stick to using online retailers with a good reputation, such as well-known supermarkets or high street shops you visit often. This makes sure that you’re only putting money in the hands of retailers that you trust. You can also check that the retailers website starts with “https” (and not just “http”) – this is a sign that the website is secure.

Beware of phishing scams

Phishing is when attackers send malicious emails designed to trick people into falling for a scam. Typically, the intent is to get users to reveal financial information, system credentials or other sensitive information. Check out our article on phishing attacks and how to avoid them here.

Online scams

Scammers often use social networks like Facebook, or dating websites, to befriend you and gain your trust. Once this trust has been established, they’ll then start asking for money – often by sharing a sad, emotional story or asking for help in an emergency situation.

This is especially dangerous as this form of scamming involved willingly handing your money to someone else, and makes it virtually impossible to get that money back.

Similarly, hackers will often act as charities, lotteries or local governments, requesting your personal information to deposit prizes or funds into your account.

A simple rule of thumb: don’t ever give or receive money from anyone you don’t know and trust in person.

Also, beware of catfishes online. Catfishing is the process of luring someone into a relationship using a fictional online persona. This is often to extort the victim into handing over money or gifts.

Protecting passwords

Every account you hold that contains private information should have a unique password, completely different from your others. This means if your password is leaked online, it won’t allow hackers access to important personal information such as your financial information or intimate details about your life. Passwords are easy to reset with email access – so it’s much better to forget and reset your password than it is to make it too easy to access it.

To create a strong password, try this technique: use three random but memorable words for each password. This combination makes it virtually impossible for your password to be guessed or easily worked out by either those who know you, or strangers with ill intent. You can make these passwords even stronger by using a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.

Consider using a password manager

If you want an easier way to remember your passwords across all your accounts, you can use a password manager. This software remembers your login details for you and logs you in with the click of a button – you just have to remember one secure login and it does the rest for you. Most will even generate strong passwords for you to use across your accounts.

How to keep your children safe online

If you have kids in the household, there are some extra considerations to help them learn how to navigate the online world safely.

Talk about online safety

As soon as your child starts showing an interest in using a mobile device, a computer or even a games console, make them aware of the hidden pitfalls and encourage open and honest conversations about their experiences online. This also includes talking about potential risks, from financial scams to online bullying and predators.

It’s also a good idea to dive into the games they’re using and inhabit the space they’ll be spending time in. After all, it helps to have first-hand experience of what they’re encountering, whether that be messages from strangers or intrusive, inappropriate adverts and harmful content.

Talk about online safety warning signs

‘Question everything’ is a good rule to live by online, whether that’s distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources, watching out for scams, responding to requests for personal information or even making new online friendships. It’s important that your children know how and when to report issues and involve adults where necessary. Remember to give them an awareness of the warning signs, such as what to look out for and how best to interact online.

Teach good online behaviour

There’s often a feeling of anonymity online that allows people to behave differently than they might in real life, especially when posting on social media. This also brings us to the point of digital footprints – nobody wants regrettable pictures, posts or comments stuck online forever more. Talk to your children about how to protect their social media account, using privacy settings and how their private information is vulnerable if they share it with the wrong person online.

Stay aware of the latest trends

Technology updates constantly, so do your best to stay informed on the latest online trends and social media platforms, and any potential risks involved. It’ll be easier to discuss their online world with them if they feel you understand it, but importantly it’ll also ensure you can help keep them safe.

Use parental controls

Parental controls can come from your service provider, internet browsers or directly on individual devices. Be sure to use them and check their browsing history when you can. Keep an eye on the apps and websites your children are using, and make sure that all the correct privacy settings are in place. Now is also a good opportunity to make sure your child understands the importance of keeping their personal data private and to chat about age guidelines and why they exist on some sites.

Don’t forget that our broadband connections come with basic parental controls as standard, and by logging into the router you can block adult and malicious content as well as set basic time access profiles for your WiFi networks. If you want enhanced parental controls, our Whole Home WiFi solution is perfect for that extra peace of mind.

The internet is an incredible source of community, information and entertainment, and these controls combines with building trust and having ongoing open conversations are key to keeping children safe online.

If you’re looking for more information and tools to help, check out the Safer Internet site here.

Now you and your family are ready to surf safely and use your Highland Broadband connection to its fullest.

Want to see if our full-fibre network is in your area? Use our availability checker here.