5 FAST WAYS TO BOOST YOUR SAFETY ONLINE

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Tackling online safety issues does not always have to be expensive and tiresome, so check out these 5 quick tips from our cyber security partner F-Secure to help give your online safety a boost.

1. Check if your personal details have been stolen online

Data breaches can lead to identity theft and account takeover. With stolen data criminals can, for example, buy goods or take loans in your name. Every year hackers steal personal details from billions of users in data breaches. It’s likely yours have been stolen at some point.

Check your situation for free with F‑Secure Identity Theft Checker. If your data has been stolen, in many cases you can still prevent criminals from using it. There­fore, it really pays off to check if your details have been stolen.

2. Delete unnecessary online accounts and apps

Online accounts include your email address, pass­word, phone number, credit card number, home address, etc. That’s why data breaches are a serious threat. Delete the accounts you don’t use any­more so criminals can’t steal your data from them.

Also delete the apps you don’t use any­more to minimize risks. Some apps have permissions to access your contacts, messages, photos, and so on. They might also collect data about you in the back­ground. Remember to also delete the account related to the app if there’s one.

3. Use unique pass­words and two-factor authentication

If criminals steal your pass­word to an online account, they will try to access other accounts with it. And they often get in because people reuse their pass­words. Use a unique password on every account so criminals can’t break into all your online accounts with one pass­word. A pass­word manager, like the one that is included in TalkTalk’s SuperSafe Boost, helps you remember your unique pass­words.

Another way to protect your accounts is to use two-factor authentication. It adds another method of verification, like finger­print or a code sent in SMS, so criminals can’t break in with just your pass­word. Enabling 2-factor authentication is fast and doesn’t require you to install or buy any­thing.

4. Boost your safety online with a secure browser

A browser is your access to the inter­net. Most of your online purchases, down­loads, searches, etc. are handled through it. That’s why browser security is important. Start using a browser that focuses on both privacy and security, such as Firefox or Brave. Or even better, use the SAFE browser that you get with Online Defence (SuperSafe Boost) – you can find out more here.

It’s also important to keep your browser up to date so that it’s ready against new threats. Same goes with all the browser add-ons and plugins you might have.

5. Run a virus scan

A virus on your device can damage your computer and phone, slow them down, steal your pass­words, and so on. Better get rid of them as soon as possible!

Consider using the anti-virus that comes with SuperSafe’s Online Defence which does a virus scan of your Android phone, tablet, Windows PC or Mac as soon as you install the software and immediately removes any unwanted nasties. Having active virus protection on your devices also prevents future infections.

TalkTalk’s SuperSafe Online Defence internet security protects up to 10 of the family’s mobiles, tablets, and computers from Internet nasties for just £4 per month. SuperSafe also comes with a helpful Password Manager as well. Once you’ve selected SuperSafe, you will receive an email from F-Secure to install the apps onto your devices.

Go to My Account where you can add SuperSafe