It’s the first ever Cyber Scotland Week and The Dons are fully behind the campaign. The topic of cyber security can sometimes be confusing, so our tech team have put together some basic advice for Dons fans on how to stay safe online.

Password Security

Complexity – ensure your password contains 10 (or more if you can) characters including numbers and special characters.

Three Random Words – the latest advice from the National Cyber Security Centre is to use three random words in your password e.g. “23Oakgiraffepotato!” This makes passwords harder to guess and makes it almost impossible for the password to be cracked in a realistic timeframe.

Remember, don’t make the words easy to guess like your mother’s maiden name or pet names.

Don’t use the same Password – don’t use the same password for every account you hold. Your main e-mail account especially should have a very strong unique password because if it is compromised it can be used to access your other online accounts. Latest advice also indicates that you should not change your password unless you think it has been compromised.

Two-factor Authentication – if available, use two-factor authentication. This involves another step in the log in process after password entry like an SMS message with a unique code or a thumb print.

Device Security

Updates – always install the latest updates for your device. They often contain patches for security flaws which could be exploited by a hacker.

Backups – always ensure you have a backup of your data in case of a failure or a CryptoLocker type attack.

Anti-virus software – install anti-virus software with the latest updates as this will help protect you from malware and viruses, many free versions are available to download online.

Keep Safe Online

Phishing E-mails – keep an eye out for phishing e-mails designed to trick you into visiting a seemingly legitimate webpage which in reality is a fake version set up to steal personal information.

Social Media – ensure you have enabled the service’s privacy features and only accept friend requests from people you know. Enjoy the features of the service but be wary that everything you share could become public, even with privacy features enabled.

Online Shopping and Banking – keep safe when shopping or banking online. Only visit reputable websites and check that they have a closed padlock, usually located in the browser address bar. Avoid shopping or banking whilst connected to public WiFi hotspots as these are not secure.

So, what next? Go update your weak passwords, enable two-factor authentication and get those devices updated. Following this advice will help keep you safe online. For further and more comprehensive advice on the above topics (and more) can be accessed from the below websites:

www.cyberaware.gov.uk

www.getsafeonline.org

www.ncsc.gov.uk