We want to help keep you secure online both at home and in the classroom. The amount of digital use the average person has over the course of a week has increased significantly in just a few years, and with it comes a legion of security related issues. Please take time to read this guidance as it will help you to safeguard your personal information and accounts and bring awareness to potential threats.

Safeguard Passwords

• Use a strong password for each account (try to avoid using the same one).
• 2-step verification or Multi Factor Authentication are recommended to help protect your online accounts.

Exercise Caution with Suspicious Messages

• Be wary of phishing attempts. Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious sources. Malware often spreads through phishing emails.
• Hover over links to check their destination before clicking.

Maintain Updated Apps and Software

• Regularly update your operating system, web browsers, and other software. Patches and updates often include security fixes that address vulnerabilities.

Download from Trusted Sources

• Only download software, apps, and files from reputable websites. Be cautious of third-party sources, as they may distribute infected files.

Download from Trusted Sources

• Only download software, apps, and files from reputable websites. Be cautious of third-party sources, as they may distribute infected files.

Safeguard Your Personal Information

• Be cautious about sharing sensitive information online. Provide data only on secure, reputable websites

Stay Vigilant and Alert

• Have a critical mindset, and question suspicious offers/requests, think twice before sharing personal information or engaging in virtual activities.

Reduce Public Wi-fi Usage for Secure Online Activity

• Public Wi-fi networks can be tempting to use but they could be vulnerable. Limit their usage and don’t use for sensitive tasks like online banking or shopping.

Practice Discretion in Social Media and File Sharing

• Be mindful of what you share on social media and other online services and adjust privacy settings to control the visibility of personal content.

Shop Smart and Securely Online

• Be careful when purchasing online. Ensure the website is trustworthy and uses secure payment methods. When it’s time to pay for your items, check there’s a ‘closed padlock’ icon in the browser’s address bar. It will look like this:
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• The padlock icon doesn’t guarantee that the retailer itself is legitimate/reputable (and that their website is secure). It means that the connection is secure.
• If the padlock icon is not there, or the browser says not secure, then don’t use the site. Don’t enter any personal or payment details or create an account.

Backup your Personal Data

• Consider backing up data that’s important to you on a regular basis, you can use free web services such as a Microsoft or Google mail account these offer online storage but can be limited in storage capacity, alternately you could use an external hard drive which will store larger amounts of data.

For additional information visit the links below:

Cyber Aware – NCSC.GOV.UK

Information for Individuals & families – NCSC.GOV.UK

Get Safe Online | The UK’s leading Online Safety Advice Resource