Understanding Threats

• Cyber threats come in various forms, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware, each with their unique abilities and harms.
• Phishing is a method used by scammers to trick you into providing personal information or performing actions that compromise your security.
• Identity theft involves someone else using your personal information, often sourced from insecure online activities, to impersonate you or conduct fraudulent activities.
• Ransomware is a type of malicious software that locks you out of your system or files until a ransom is paid.

Fundamental Security Precautions

• Firewalls provide a first line of defence by controlling traffic between different networks, often the internet and a private network.
• Antivirus software scans your computer for known threats and helps to isolate and eliminate them.
• Use of strong, unique passwords helps protect your accounts from being easily breached.
• Regular software updates are essential as they often include patches for known security vulnerabilities.

Communications and Online Safety

• Avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading files from untrusted sources. These can often lead to malware or phishing sites.
• Encrypt your sensitive data to prevent unauthorized access. This is particularly vital when using public Wi-Fi networks.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra level of security by requiring a second factor, such as a OTP sent to your mobile, in addition to your password.
• Be cautious when sharing personal information online. Use privacy settings on social media platforms and think before posting anything that could be used maliciously.

Data Protection and Backups

• Regular backups are critical to ensure that you can recover files lost due to malware attacks, systems failures or accidental deletion.
• Consider using a secure cloud storage solution for backing up your data, as these often come with built-in security measures.
• Be mindful of where your data is stored and who has access to it. Use access controls to restrict who can view or edit sensitive information.
• Securely wipe any storage devices you get rid of to ensure residual data cannot be recovered and misused.

Responsible Usage

• Be aware of your legal responsibilities when using computers. Know that accessing another person's computer system without permission is illegal under the Computer Misuse Act.
• Understand that online behaviour has consequences. Cyberbullying is the use of digital communication tools to make another person's experience negative—it's harmful and often illegal.
• Be cautious about what you post online. Maintain a positive digital footprint as it may impact your future opportunities.