Tips to stay safe online

Be cautious with links or attachments in emails and text messages, or links on websites you don’t know. To check a link, hover your mouse over it to see where the link will take you. On a smartphone or device, you can press and hold to see where the link will take you.

Shop with reputable, trusted companies – beware of online sites you’ve never heard of. Also check that the site has a locked padlock in the browser (next to the address bar).

Don’t make payments, access online banking or do anything personal when using public WiFi as it may not be secure. Use your mobile or device data plan instead.

Be careful with how much you share on social media. Fraudsters can use what you share to impersonate you. Be cautious about interacting with people you don’t know and check your privacy settings regularly to make sure you aren’t sharing more information than you’re comfortable with. For tips on managing your privacy settings on social media check out the CERT NZ guide to cyber security and social media.

Don’t give remote access to your mobile, device or computer to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. The software that fraudsters ask you to download can be used to monitor and capture your personal and bank login details.