We take our responsibility to look after your money, information and privacy seriously. We therefore have security measures in place to help combat fraud and cybercrime. As individuals there are also some simple steps and guidance that we can all easily follow to improve our personal online security:

Security Checklist:

Password protect devices and online accounts.

Where possible, passwords should be at least eight characters long, should include different types of characters, and should not be a proper word, name or place. Consider using phrases, a number of unconnected words or letters from something memorable to you but difficult to guess, such as a poem or song lyrics. Change your passwords regularly where possible, using different passwords for different accounts. Do not let anyone else know your password.

Beware of email and telephone scams.

Unexpected emails may be malicious; containing viruses, malware or other tools criminals use to gain access to your information. Do not reply to an email asking for sensitive information, open an unexpected attachment or enter information into a website that you are directed to by a hyperlink. Instead, use a search engine to direct you to the organisation’s login page. Do not give sensitive information such as plan numbers to a caller if you are unsure of who they are.

Keep your operating system, firewall and antivirus up to date.

Cybercrime is a fast moving industry. By keeping your systems up to date, they will be more resilient to new cyber-attacks. Also run regular virus scans of your computers and devices.

Be careful when using unsecure wireless connections.

If you are unsure whether the connection is secure do not enter sensitive information into the device. If you are in a public place such as a café or hotel the wireless connection is less likely to be secure.

Be aware of the risks associated with social media.

Social Media is a good way to store and share personal information. Cyber criminals will also use social media to look for your date of birth, place of birth or middle name, for example, which they can use to take over your accounts or commit identity theft. Use the privacy settings on websites and be careful about what you make publically available. Be aware of what your friends and family post about you.