Online Safety

Make sure you keep safe online, whether on social media or even emails, with these handy tips:

We have listed below our top tips to help you protect your personal data and keep yourself safe online.

Think before you click a link in an email. Do you know and trust the sender? Fake ‘phishing’ emails can be very convincing: https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5fvTpNHe9gIVR4BQBh148AHwEAAYASAAEgKd__D_BwE
Never give your PIN or passwords over the phone - your bank or the police would never ask for these.
Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
Don’t leave personal details lying around and shred personal correspondence before disposing.
Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software on all devices and keep it updated.
Back up any important data as this will stop any loss of files if your device breaks, gets lost/stolen or is infected by malware.
Don’t assume public Wi-Fi hotspots are secure – never use them to do anything confidential like using your email or making a payment. Where possible use your mobile network internet which will have built-in security.
Check your privacy settings. It’s up to you who sees your photos, updates, and profile information - be aware of your digital footprint and what information is available about you
Be careful what you post online.
Think before you add friends or contacts: Do you know them? Do you want to give them access to your photos etc?
Avoid sharing personal information in public, like your phone number or address.
Only shop from secure websites - these will show a locked padlock or unbroken key in your browser, and the URL will begin with https://.

Tickets and Fraud:

Scam emails - would they really ask for that information? To find out more about phishing and identity theft see The Mix
Also be cautious when buying tickets for events online. Make sure they are legitimate events from a trusted provider.

Helpful links:

If you need any further information or support, please contact advice@su.plymouth.ac.uk

Last Updated: April 2024