Cyber experts at Cumbria Police are reminding people of top tips to stay safe online as an annual day is held to promote internet security.
Safer Internet Day takes place today ( February 10 ) – and officers and staff in the county will be educating professionals, pupils and the public to tie in with the event.
Cyber crime and fraud is a growing concern for forces across the UK and advice is issued throughout the year aimed at keeping people safe online.
Key threats include online fraud and exploitation of people, particularly children and young people.
Cumbria Police’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit has specialist officers who work to combat these threats.
Activities taking place to tie in with Safer Internet Day includes the unit taking part in a webinar – a presentation held online – that is open to anyone who works with or supports children, young people or families.
The webinar, organised by the multi-agency Westmorland and Furnace Safeguarding Children Partnership, focuses on practical steps to support safer digital use.
Officers also deliver sessions at schools across Cumbria throughout the year covering subjects including social media use, awareness of strangers online and sharing of pictures online.
One of these safety sessions will be held in the south of the county on Safer Internet Day.
The force will also share advice through its various media channels to tie in with the event.
Detective Inspector Fiona Gray leads Cumbria Police’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit.
She said: “Tackling online crime and protecting the public is of the utmost importance to us – but there are many precautions people can take to protect themselves as well.
“Safer Internet Day gives everyone the chance to refresh themselves on ways to keep themselves and their families safe online.
“Our specialist officers continue to work to combat the various forms of cyber enabled and dependent offending, safeguarding those at risk and bringing offenders to justice.
“We also carry out educational inputs, equipping people of all ages - both in business and in the community - with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves, their families and their businesses from online exploitation and cyber criminality.
“Many of the crimes we deal with are unseen to the public, and, where young people are concerned, often without the knowledge of their parents or guardians.
“I would urge people to take an active interest in the online activities of your children and take note of the ways you too can stay safe online.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Prevention and education are the keys to reducing cyber-crime. If we know how to spot the signs of a scam and protect ourselves, we’re less likely to fall victim to these criminals.
“I’d encourage everyone to read up on how to keep themselves as safe as possible when online.
“Scammers are experts at gaining trust so anyone can fall victim to their crimes, if you have already been affected by cyber-crime, please report it to the Police on 101 or Report Fraud at 0300 123 2040.”
The below tips are taken from the National Cyber Security Centre and are a good place to start.
- Protect your email by using a strong and separate password. Cyber criminals can use your email to access many of your personal accounts, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft.
- Install the latest software and app updates. Software and app updates contain vital security updates to help protect your devices from cyber criminals.
- Turn on 2-step verification (2SV). 2-step verification is recommended to help protect your online accounts.
- Use password managers. They can help you create and remember passwords.
- Back up your data. Safeguard your most important data, such as your photos and key documents, by backing them up to an external hard drive or a cloud-based storage system.
- Three random words. Use three random words to create a password that's difficult to crack.
More advice here: Top tips for staying secure online - NCSC.GOV.UK