Welcome to our guide on Staying Safe Online! In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever to protect your personal information and maintain your privacy while browsing. This page provides simple tips and best practices to help you stay secure online, avoid common threats like scams and malware, and make smarter decisions to protect your devices and data. Let’s get started on how you can browse, shop, and interact online with confidence and safety!
GENERAL NOTICE FOR ALL SURE CUSTOMERS
Please be aware that Sure will never ask for your password in an email. If you are unsure if an email from Sure is legitimate please call us on 01481 700700 to double check. You should never give out any personal or bank details in an email unless you are certain of the recipient's identity.
Good to know
Spam emails are unwanted, sometimes fraudulent emails that are usually sent to you without your permission. They may be advertising a service or product and it is best to delete an email before opening it if you suspect that it is a fraudulent message as some can contain viruses.
If you are using SureMail there are built in spam filters and our servers are designed to block certain Malware, but please be advised that with sophisticated techniques used by spam email, some malicious email could still end up in your inbox.
We do not advise you to forward your spam email to us but to delete it immediately as forwarding it could increase the risk of viruses and malware entering our network and cause a hazard to our other customers.
You can view or edit your spam settings within your SureMail account.
The internet can be a great source of information, resources and knowledge. However, it’s important that parents and children are aware of the dangers and how to protect themselves.
Top Tips for staying safe online
For more information on staying safe online and to report inappropriate content, please follow the links to the resources listed below.
A resource to help reduce the risk of falling victim to online/mobile banking fraud.
Please be aware that Sure will never ask for your password in an email. If you are unsure if an email from Sure is legitimate please call us on 01481 700700 to double check. You should never give out any personal or bank details in an email unless you are certain of the recipient's identity.
What is phishing?
Phishing is described as the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
From time to time you may receive emails that look like they are from Sure or other leading companies but they are in fact a scam to try and get you to give them some sensitive information about you or your account.
It's slightly different from spam because they want you to enter your details via a link and from there they will have access to all sorts of private information about you.
How to avoid getting caught in a phishing net
✓ Always be suspicious.
Phishing emails try to scare you with warnings of stolen information or worse, and then offer an easy fix if you just "click here." (Or the opposite: "You've won a prize! Click here to claim it!") When in doubt, don't click. Instead, open your browser, go to the company's website, then sign in normally to see if there are any signs of strange activity. If you're concerned, change your password.
✓ Check for bad spelling and grammar.
We have seen messages riddled with spelling mistakes and bad grammar. If you're looking at something that contains these, it's almost certainly a fake.
✓ Keep your security software updated.
An accidental click of a phishing link doesn't have to spell disaster. There are free browser add-ons that will warn you if the site you're about to visit is suspected of malicious activity. Search online for one that suits you.
✓ Use your phone.
If you're checking email on your phone, it might actually be harder to spot a phishing attempt. You can't "mouse over" a questionable link, and the smaller screen makes you less likely to spot obvious gaffes. Even on a mobile it's still good to exercise caution when dealing with suspicious links.
Obviously, you still shouldn't complete a form that asks for your password or other personal info.
✓ Most of all, rely on common sense.
You can't win a contest you didn't enter. Your bank won't contact you using an email address you never registered. Microsoft did not "remotely detect a virus on your PC." Know the warning signs, think before you click, and never, ever give out your password or financial info unless you're properly signed into your account.
Some phishing mail impersonates our bill notification email and the login page it links to looks convincing too. But it does not show your account number or come from a recognisable email address. If you ever receive a second bill by email from us, take care. We only send them once and we show your account number on it. Compare it to the one before if you are not sure or just ask us before you click on any links.
Be on the lookout for anything not on a Sure URL.
And if you do click a link accidently or enter a password, please change your password straight away. Make it memorable but long and complicated if you can. Back up your data and install anti-virus software such as Norton or McAfee, other brands are available. Nothing is 100% as hackers are getting more and more sophisticated so refer to the tips above at all times and take care.
Here are some additional tips regarding phishing email
✓ Never respond to emails that request confidential personal financial information or details of your username or password.
✓ Banks or e-commerce companies generally personalise emails, while phishers do not.
✓ Check for grammatical errors or spelling mistakes - if you see these it could be a good indicator that the email is not legitimate.
✓Be wary of emails that threaten or push for immediate action such as your account will be closed or disabled if you do not act right away.
✓ If unsure, do not click a link, call a number provided on the email or respond to the email. Contact the company via their website or on the usual contact details you use.
✓ Be wary of any unexpected attachments, especially if they are asking you to enable macros
Password Advice
✓ Aim for a minimum of 10 characters, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. ✓ Do not write your passwords down or share them with anyone. ✓Do not use the same password for different accounts or services. ✓ Ensure you change your passwords regularly. ✓ Don’t use dictionary words, or anything that is closely related to you or your interests.
Consider using a passphrase instead of a password. A good passphrase will likely be easier to remember and longer than a password so less susceptible to password cracking tools.
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