Get Safe Online Week: 5 Tips For Safe eCommerce

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Did you know that this week (20 – 26th October) is Get Safe Online Week.   The aim is to draw attention to the importance of protecting your personal information online.

With the number of customers opting for online course booking and web integration as part of their course management system it’s really important to us that everyone is aware of eCommerce best practice and the simple things we can advise to help protect identities online. If you are interested in finding out more about the benefits of introducing an online course booking system, check out this page.

Online course booking is certainly not a new concept.  We all spend much of our lives online shopping, renewing insurance, policies and logging into personal accounts, so it’s that we follow some best practice advice to stay safe and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.  Here are Experian Credit Expert's 5 ways to stay safe online:- 

1.  Be careful where you click 

It’s best to use websites that you know and trust.  Always look for a security padlock icon in the top left hand corner of a page before you register financial or personal information on a website. If an online deal sounds too good to be true, it quite probably is.

2.  Keep pins and passwords private

It may sound obvious to some, but use strong passwords, especially if you have stored payment details, and it’s a good idea to change them every now and then. It’s best not to use obvious words and dates, such as your birthday, pets’ or children’s names, and to try to have different passwords for all your accounts, in order to avoid running the risk of a ‘domino’ effect were one of them to fall into rogue hands. Finally, it’s best if you can memorise details rather than noting them down – never give account details to anyone else.

3.  Secure your device

Make sure you are using the built-in security tools and settings on your device. And if possible, install the latest anti-virus and firewall software. Be careful what information you have stored on your phone including emails that can be accessed without a password.

Top tips for staying safe online

4.  Be aware of your surrounding

If you’re out and about, make sure you can’t be overlooked when you make a mobile payment - be especially careful around wi-fi, as once you’ve joined a public network, your device can be seen electronically by anyone else on the network, so avoid using any password-protected sites or information.

5.  Check your credit care statement regularly 

Make sure everything is accurate and up to date, and query anything that isn’t.

Finally, always tell the police, your bank, credit card issuers and anybody else who might be affected if you suffer a theft. That way, your loss is on the record and organisations that might be approached by the thieves will be forewarned. If you think you have become a victim of identity fraud, notify the police, contact your bank and check your credit balance. 

To find out more, download our Top Tips for Staying Safe Online. 

Check out these articles for more related information:

Get Safe Online Week: 5 Tips For Online Safety And Security

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