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Dear residents, Beware of employment scams advertised online – see GetSafeOnline - Job Scam - Top Tips and Job Scams press release for further guidance (contact the team via email CrimePreventionCommunications@met.police.uk or by phone on 743465 for a copy).Secure your computer: Activate your Firewall – Firewalls are the first line of cyber defence; they block connections to unknown or bogus sites and will keep out some types of viruses and hackers.Use up-to-date anti-virus/malware software – this can help prevent viruses from infecting your computer.Install the latest operating system updates: Turn on automatic updates to prevent potential attacks on older software.Avoid being scammed: The majority of viruses are delivered via a false email that asks you to click on a link. These are often malicious and users should not open unsolicited emails. Remember banks and financial institutes will not send you an email asking you to click on a link and confirm you bank details.Use strong passwords: A strong password is one that contains a minimum of 10 characters and is a combination of letters, numbers and special characters.Use different ID/password combinations for different accounts.Be social-media aware: Make sure your social networking profiles are set to private and check your security settings.Protect your data: Make regular back-ups of all your important data and store it in a separate location. Consider using encryption for essential files.Protect your e-identity: Verify the credentials of organisations/people prior to giving out any personal information. e.g. name, address, bank details, email or phone number.When making on-line purchases make sure that the websites you are using are secure.Wireless (Wi-Fi) Networks: Secure home Wi-Fi networks as they are vulnerable to intrusion. Using Public Wi-Fi 'Hot Spot's can also leave you vulnerable to a cyber attack.Where possible, do not use them to conduct financial transactions. Secure your mobile device. Mobile devices can also be vulnerable to hackers and viruses. Ensure all downloads applications are from trusted sources. Roehampton SNT |
