How to protect yourself online

PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER

Ensure you have Anti-virus protection.

An Anti-virus protection system helps you to find and remove any viruses or suspicious programs. We strongly recommend that you have up to date Antivirus software installed on your home computer and that you ensure that the software is kept up to date with the latest virus definitions.

If you access the internet from your workplace please check that your employer has installed an Anti-virus solution. It’s recommended that you use an Anti-virus program which has an Auto Update feature.A scan of all files should be scheduled at least once a week; Norton, McAfee and Grisoft are examples of credible suppliers that provide Antivirus software.

Be aware that some Anti-virus software is better than others

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Make sure you’re protected by a Firewall

A Firewall protects your computer from unauthorised access and blocks unwanted internet activity. If you’re using your home computer to access the internet you should use a software Firewall. If you use a computer at work check that your employer is maintaining a Firewall.

It is recommended that your Firewall is set up to work on both incoming and outgoing traffic. Not only would you have control over what comes into your computer but you’d also have control on what leaves your computer. Like Anti-virus software, a range of Firewalls are available as free downloads from companies such as ZoneAlarm, Kerio and Sygate to commercial products from Norton, McAfee and Trend Micro. Firewall software is also built into Windows XP and Mac OS X although you may need to activate these as they may not be setup to work as a default.

Advice on Firewalls is available at www.firewallguide.com

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Keep your computer software up to date

It’s quite common for security problems to be discovered in existing software.When this happens the Software Company will usually issue an update known as a patch. If you’ve an Apple computer running OS X, you should run the Software Update tool at least once a week. If you’ve a Windows computer, you should regularly use Windows Update or Microsoft Update to check for new patches from Microsoft. In some versions of Windows, this will be an option in the Start Menu, in others you may have to select Windows Update from the Tools menu of Internet Explorer.

You should regularly check for updates to the main software on your computer by visiting the suppliers website or using the update features in their software where these are available.To check for updates and patches you should visit your software publisher's website.

These websites can provide more information to help you keep your computer up to date: www.microsoft.com & www.apple.com

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Bank Safe Online

For more advice and a step by step guide to staying safe online visit www.banksafeonline.org.uk a website launched by APACS the UK payment association working on behalf of the banking industry.

Calls may be monitored and recorded for security and training purposes. 0845 numbers may not be available outside the UK. Calls from BT landlines will cost a maximum of 4p per minute plus a 6p call set-up fee. The price of calls from other telephone companies and from outside the UK will vary. The call price is correct as at today's date.