Internet Safety Tips

Tony Neate from Get Safe Online Q & A:

1) How at risk are people by putting their information online?

Twenty years ago we only had to worry about cheque guarantee cards and cheque books, now we're in a time where online criminals use the internet to find all manner of information about people. Our research shows you can buy someone's identity for as little as £80, and that identity can be worth as much as £14,000 debt that someone can accumulate in your name. We are in a time where we need to be very careful with what we do with personal and financial information.

2) How much information is safe to put on things like Facebook or MySpace?

People need to have a 'closed' profile. It is a setting you can apply to your page which means only people you allow can view it. Also, you need to be careful about what information you put on that page. You wouldn't go to the bus stop and shout out your date of birth, where you live, or what bank you use. People feel safe at home putting this information out there, but it's these little bits of information that criminals are looking for. Social networking sites are a great way of keeping in touch, but you don't have to put all of your information in. Do people really need to put exact information in? It may be safer to leave a few details out.

3) What steps can people take to make sure information put online by other people isn't putting them at risk?

If it is friends, make sure you tell them what information you are happy with them putting online about you. Check your work website and ask them to take off any information that you don't want in the public domain; if they've put too much information on there; you are within your rights to have it removed. The electoral register is also available online but you can also have your name taken off that if your request it. I don't want to scare monger about the internet, we can use it to achieve brilliant things but be careful about the information you put online. It's easy to check what information is on there about you and if there is too much, take the appropriate steps to have it removed.

4) Is it safe to use the internet to meet people?

The web is one of the best places to initially meet someone if you are looking for romance or just new friends. You can find an awful lot about someone by meeting them online, it may not all be true, but it's a good start. Then when you meet them, you can tell people where you are going, who you are meeting, and you can get friends to check that everything is OK. In many ways, it is safer than meeting someone on a night out; when you do it that way you have no way of getting to know who someone is.

5) How do people stay safe when arranging to meet someone they've met online?

Let someone know details about the person you are meeting, where you are meeting them, and when you are meeting. Ask someone to give you call when out or call them and let them know everything is OK. Of course, make sure if you are meeting someone new, it is in a public place.

6) Viruses are another way people can put their computers at risk, how can people protect themselves online?

There are five steps people need to take:
1) Make sure you have anti-spyware software and that it's up to date.
2) Make sure you have anti-virus software and that it's up to date.
3) Make sure you have a firewall and make sure it's turned on
4) Make sure your operating system (Windows for example) has automatic updates turned on.
5) If using a wireless network, make sure you have a password.

7) What are the risks for people who don't protect their computers?

It makes it much easier for criminals to gain access to the computer to get personal information; once that has happened, it is no longer your machine, it is theirs. You can wipe your computer and start over again, but think about how much data you could lose: photos of the family, music, and important documents. The problem is that if you don't have the software you need, you may not even know you have a virus; you may only realise you have one once it's too late and you have had your identity stolen.

8) What protection do people have when buying things online?

The internet gives people so much variety online; we spent £30 billion online last year, so it is a massive industry. You do need to make sure you are dealing with the right people though. It can de difficult when buying from outside the EU with consumer protection laws, so if you are buying something from far away, make sure you know what you're getting, as getting your money back could be tricky.

If dealing with high street retailers, make sure it is them you are dealing with. There are some great bargains on sites, but you need to check they are genuine. Is there a landline, address or other contact details on the website? Do they display their terms and conditions properly? You are already online, visit some forums and see if the company has a good reputation.

Also, when using a site, make sure it is secure, that means the information you put in is safe. Normally, it will say HTTPS in the address bar at the top rather than HTTP; this means it is in secure mode. There will also be a little padlock in the bottom right or top right of the screen to make sure you know it is secure. It is also worth using a credit card for larger purchases as they are a more secure way of doing things.

Tony Neate is a police officer with 30 years experience. His recent work includes setting up the high-tech crime unit at South Wales Police where he dealt with numerous computer-related offences including hacking, online child abuse, denial of service attacks, cyber stalking, email abuse and Phishing. He is now managing director of Get Safe Online.

For more information about staying safe online, visit
http://www.getsafeonline.org/