Online security tips.
Using the internet can be great fun, but like entering any new
place you need to have your wits about you to be sure it’ll be a
positive experience. Below are our top hints and tips:
Be cautious making
friends onlineIt’s great to meet new friends from across the
planet, but not everyone has good intentions.
Don’t give out your mobile number, messenger ID, photo, email
address, physical address and especially debit or credit card
details over text or whilst chatting through high speed mobile
internet.
If your online friend wants to become an offline friend, neither
children nor adults should meet them alone. Arrange to meet in a
very public place and take a friend of family member along for
support.
If you are a young person and feel uncomfortable about an online
relationship, tell a responsible adult. You can also report online
child abuse. If you are a parent, we encourage you to talk to
your child about chat rooms to understand that not all of them are
appropriate environments for young people.
Avoid mystery
attachments
The files you open – from photos and video clips in emails to links
on pop ups - could carry viruses and fraud software onto your
computer. Make sure you only open files from trusted
sources.Report illegal
content
Keep the internet clean. If you see material online which you feel
is illegal or inappropriate, report it to the Internet Watch Foundation.
If you are a parent, you should consider downloading an internet
filter such as the Kitemark for child
safety online. Your internet browser should also have a content
blocker (for Internet Explorer look under: Tools – Internet Options
– Content).
Remember, no filter is 100% effective. There is no substitute for
good parental involvement. Childnet International
provides more information for parents and young people about how to
understand cyber culture.
Beware of pop-ups
bearing gifts
Never respond to junk or spam email and beware of pop up windows.
If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is! Don’t
forward spam or chain emails either – they are just annoying to
receive!
Don't get caught by
phishermen
Phishing is the name for a type of online crime to get valuable
personal information. Criminals target individuals with emails from
web sites which they think are trustworthy – such as a bank or
credit card company. Legitimate businesses should not ask you for
passwords, social security numbers, or other personal information
through email.
Remember emails form Sure Cable & Wireless will
NEVER ask you for your password.
To combat phishing use the Microsoft
Phishing Filter. You can report phishing frauds to the
Anti-Phishing Working
Group.
Keep your credit card
details safe
Criminals hack people, not computers. Most internet crime occurs
because credit card details are stolen in the real world and then
used online. Never give your PIN or bank passwords to cold callers
or over email. Remember we never ask for your
security details via email and you should always login to
websites from the original address and never from
links in questionable emails.
You can feel safe when buying
from our online shop as our secure-server software encrypts
all your personal information before it is sent. Our online shop is
certified with VeriSign SSL Extended Validation
Certificates.
In addition we comply with Payment
Card Industry (PCI) standards and procedures to ensure your card
details are kept safe.
Shop at secure web
sites
If shopping online, only use a reputable retailer and ensure that
you are on a secure web page before sending credit card
details. A padlock or unbroken key symbol will be displayed at
the top or bottom of your browser window, or a green address bar at
the top. These indicate a certified secure payment process.
Sign up to
Verified
by Visa or
MasterCard SecureCode to prevent criminals from using your card
details on participating sites by adding this extra password.
If you shop online regularly consider opening a dedicated credit
card account. This will enable you to monitor transactions more
easily and gain greater protections against online fraud. Credit
cards usually also include added consumer protection.
Always check your bank statements as soon as you receive them. If
there is an unusual or suspicious transaction, tell your bank
straight away. Make sure you print out both your order form and the
retailer’s terms and conditions to help your bank seek
redress.
Always read the small
print
Before you sign up for premium content services, ensure you know
what is involved – charges can mount up very quickly. Children
should always seek the permission of an adult before accessing
premium rate content on a landline, mobile phone or via a PC.
Keep virus
protection up to date
Make sure you install and keep updated anti-virus software, a
spyware filter and firewall onto your home computer. It has been
reported by consumer organisations that individuals may be liable
if defrauded through their computer if such protections are not
present, or kept updated. For more information
see: www.gm.tv/
Links
www.MoneySavingExpert.com – includes free anti-virus
software
Our comittment - Sure has commited to
helping internet security
Childnet International – charity
working to make the internet safe for children
Kidsmart - award winning
practical internet safety programme Thinkuknow – great sites for
children of different ages, parents and teachers with information
about online culture and safety
There4me – Online
counselling for 12-16 year olds
Cyberbullying – advice
about dealing with bullies using technology such as mobiles and the
internet
CEOP -
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
Anti-Phishing Working Group –
committed to wiping out internet scams & fraud
Get safe online – a 10 minute
guide to internet safety
Card Watch – information about
how to use plastic cards safely
Bank Safe Online – learn
about how criminals target online banking and how to protect
yourself
Internet Watch Foundation – Place to report
illegal online content .
Our commitment to
your safetySure is a member of the Internet Watch
Foundation through its parent company Cable & Wireless
International. We will report any illegal web sites we discover to
the IWF which will both help Internet Service Providers to block
illegal content and will report criminal behaviour online to the
appropriate authorities. Illegal web sites will include: child sex
abuse images hosted anywhere in the world; criminally obscene
content; web sites with content which may incite racial hatred or
incidents of inappropriate chat or behaviour with or towards a
child online. If you identify any sites or activity online which
may be illegal, please report it directly to the IWF: http://www.iwf.org.uk/
As part of an initiative by Childnet International one of our
members of staff has been presenting online safety tips to every
year seven pupil (age 11-12) on Guernsey.
Illegal
content
Sure Broadband is a member of the Internet Watch Foundation and
will block our customers from viewing illegal content. We will only
block sites listed by the IWF which maintains the UK’s most
recognised independent black list of illegal online content.
Illegal web sites will include: child sex abuse images hosted
anywhere in the world; criminally obscene content; web sites with
content which may incite racial hatred or incidents of
inappropriate chat or behaviour with or towards a child
online.
Our concern is with protecting Sure customers from accidentally
viewing content which may upset and/or offend them. In addition
please note that it is a criminal offence to view illegal content.
Sure Broadband neither monitors, nor censors users wishing to view
adult content. We will only block sites on the IWF black list and
will not add any other content filters onto our service.
We will report any illegal web sites or activity we discover to the
IWF. The IWF will both help Internet Service Providers to block
illegal content and will report criminal behaviour online to the
appropriate authorities. When appropriate Sure may also report any
locally hosted sites to the local police. If you identify any sites
or activity online which may be illegal, please report it directly
to the IWF: http://www.iwf.org.uk .