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Tiscali Members: Protect your identity

Protect your identity

There's no doubt that the internet has made all our lives much easier, as a simple and effective tool for shopping, banking and much more. However, the more we use these online tools, the more we put ourselves at risk from identity fraud - if we don't follow some simple procedures when it comes to protecting ourselves.

Read on to find out how to make your online experience as secure as possible, and get a few hints and tips on what to do if you think you may be at threat.

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Create a strong password

Your password should be as hacker-proof as you can make it - to find out how to create a strong password check out our handy hints and tips

Check your internet security settings

By customising your internet settings or setting them to default security, you decrease the risks associated with internet browsing. Follow these simple steps to get secure.

Do not respond to unsolicited emails

Especially if they're asking for personal information such as banking pins, account numbers or email addresses. Often these emails will link through to bogus banking sites designed to fool you into providing all your personal details to criminals - a scam called phishing. They will also use scare tactics to alarm you into responding, such as warning your account will be shut down. If in doubt, do not click on the link in the email. Go straight to your bank's website or simply make a phonecall to ascertain the email's validity.

Look for the secure padlock

You know when you're in the secure part of a website because a small (usually yellow) padlock icon appears in the bottom right hand corner of your web browser. For more tips on secure online shopping check here.

Always log off and shut down

Whether you're at home, at work or using a public computer - always take the time to properly log off from the website you've been using. When you're finished with your PC, shut it down or disconnect from the internet to avoid any security breaches.

Look out for clues of spyware

Spyware does a number of things to your PC that make it easy to spot - but don't forget to install scanning software too. Things to look out for include: a rise in pop-ups when moving from one web page to another; your usual homepage has changed to an unknown website address or your PC's performance has slowed down of late. You can get security software from Tiscali. In addition, our security checker can run spyware scans on your machine - try it.