Craft Focus - April/May 2020 (Issue 78)

83 ACID ACID W : acid.uk.com “Each year fraud and cybercrime costs the UK economy £ 193 bil lion. Cyber crime is when fraudsters target us thr ough our computers, tablets or smart phones or thr ough the internet to steal valuable personal and/or commercial information to il legal ly make money. Today, our lives increasingly depend on technology pr oviding criminals with easy targets.” Avoid using public Wi-Fi when transferring sensitive information, such as payment details. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that can infect a computer and restricts genuine users’ access until a ransom or payment is paid, often into an anonymous Bit Coin account. Ensure antivirus systems are up-to-date and that appropriate firewalls are in place together with checking that legitimate software updates are current. Did you know that 78 per cent Apps fail basic security checks so be aware! Some 90 per cent of hot spots are also insecure and easy targets for criminals. Look out for antennae (called pineapples) in cafes and public places, disconnect immediately. Gangs often operate in cafes, researching personal information through this mean; Be aware http:// is insecure; https:// is secure and make sure the padlock is green. If broken or greyish, it is probably not secure, so double check. Don’t use a free VPN (Virtual Private Network), use a secure paid for VPN. Do you have a company cyber policy? A disgruntled ex-employee who has had access to sensitive information can wreak havoc so ensure there is a policy for user privilege. For example, don’t share log-in details, discourage bringing personal devices into the office, if equipment is stolen, ensure you have the capacity to “wipe” remotely. If you use USBs ensure there is security and always use ones which you know, some criminals can ascertain information at 200 words per minute so be very careful about what you plug into your systems. Passwords – Don’t use familiar names, date of birth or pet’s names. Instead consider using permutations of random common words e.g., balloondesksun* or winehatblue$. You can find out if your password has been hacked by going to Google and entering haveIbeenpwned? Fill in your email and it will tell you instantly. Think about having all your passwords managed by password managers. Use strong, separate passwords for email accounts. Where available, use two-factor authentication on your accounts. The Internet of things – Devices like Alexa, fridges, doorbell security systems etc., with smart capabilities are potentially insecure. Programs used by hackers such as Botnek and Dolphin Whistle can hear frequencies that we can’t. Don’t plug in a device that you don’t know and focus on network security. Also don’t buy any technology that will soon reach the end of its life because software updates will stop being available. Your computer – Always back up your most recent data. Never respond to unsolicited approaches for personal and financial information. For those using Windows based PC’s be aware that Microsoft has now withdrawn support for Windows 7 so no security patches will be available. It is recommended that an upgrade to Windows 10 is implemented immediately, particularly if you use online banking facilities. Useful numbers to know: 0300 123 2040 if you suffer a cyberattack or report via actionfraud.police.uk or sign up for fraud and cybercrime alerts a t actionfraudalert.co.uk