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Online passwords
It's as important to create a password that's as hard to guess as it is easy for you to remember!
Good passwords:
- Contain a combination of letters, numbers and keyboard symbols.
- Are at least six characters long. The longer the password the harder it is to guess.
- Do not contain your real name or company name.
- Contain a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
- Are changed regularly.
Bad passwords:
- Use a common word. Believe it or not, the most common password is 'password'. Whilst ironic, this is quite easily exploited.
Something that is easy to figure out just by knowing a little about you. For example: Spouse's name, favourite football team, or your pet's name.
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Banking online
Online banking is a convenient way of keeping on top of your finances. If you do bank online we recommend that you are aware of the following:
- From time to time you will receive emails that look like they may be from your bank asking for you to access your account through a link included in the email. This is called Phishing. Phishing is a ploy to trick you into giving your password and other details to online fraudsters. These emails can be very clever and it's important to realise that because of the nature of email it's very unlikely that your bank would ever email you asking you to log into your account or to give them your personal details. Please never click on a link that is included in these types of emails.
- Phishing emails usually start with the salutation "Dear Customer" because the fraudster doesn't know your name. Your bank will address you personally.
- Your bank would never send an email asking you to disclose your PIN, passwords or personal information. If you feel uneasy about an email, call your bank to confirms its validity. Use the phone number helpline that appears on your bank statement.
- If you feel your details have been compromised in any way, contact your bank immediately. The faster you react the less you could lose.
- Viruses and spyware allow fraudsters to capture credit card and bank account numbers, passwords and other personal information that you may type into your computer. Make sure your computer is protected.
For Virus and Spyware protection, Waitrose.com recommends BullGuard Security for Windows PC users, and Intego for Mac users.
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Shopping online
Know how to spot the safe shopping sites and keep your private details private. These are our tips for shopping online safely:
- Pick reputable sellers
- Look for evidence of a physical address and phone number and review the returns policy
- Pay by credit card
- When you enter your card details ensure that the website is secure - the address should start https:// and there should be a padlock in the window of the browser itself. Make sure you can click on it and check that the seller is who they say they are
- If a deal online looks too good to be true, it probably is
Do not buy anything from Spam mail.
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Instant messaging
Fun and friendly, it also comes with its own set of risks. Chat programs come with a lot of potential dangers that you should be aware of before you start.
Risks:
- People aren't always who they say they are
- People are persuasive; don't be convinced to download anything from a "kind" stranger
- Conversations can be saved and held against you in the real world. Behave as you would in the real world when you're online
How to Instant Message safely:
- Never give out passwords, credit card details or personal information
- Block strangers
- Leave your online profile blank or where you have to enter data to use the system, do not enter information that allows you to be identified personally
- Disable automatic downloads
- Be very wary about sharing any personal info about your life to a stranger
- Keep your Instant Messaging software up-to-date
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