Stay safe from cyber crime (continued)

> Save passwords in your browser

A password manager (or a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge) can store all your passwords securely so you don’t have to worry about remembering them. This means you can use unique, strong passwords for all your important accounts (rather than using the same password for all of them, which you should never do).

Password managers are helpful because they can:

• Synchronise your passwords across different devices, so you can log on wherever you are

• Help spot fake websites, protecting you from phishing attacks

• Let you know if you’re re-using the same password across different accounts

• Notify you if your password appears within a known data breach so you can change it

• Work across platforms, so you could (for example) use a single password manager that would work for your iPhone and your Windows desktop.

Back up your data

A back-up is a copy of your important data that’s stored in a separate safe location, usually online (known as cloud storage), or on removable media (such as USB stick, SD card, or external hard drive).

Once you’ve made a back-up, if you lose access to your original data, you can restore a copy of it from the back-up.

Most back-up solutions enable you to choose what data is backed up, whether that’s just documents and photos and videos, or the entire contents of your phone/computer (including the apps and programs you use).

As a rule of thumb, always back up anything that you value and would not want to lose.

Update your devices

Applying security updates promptly will help protect your devices and accounts from cyber criminals.

Updates include protection from viruses and other kinds of malware, and will often include improvements and new features. You should update your apps and your device’s software as soon as they are available.

If you receive a prompt to update your device (or apps), don’t ignore it. Applying these updates is one of the most important (and quickest) things you can do to keep yourself safe online.

You should also turn on ‘automatic updates’ in your device’s settings, if available, which will keep your devices up

More help

to date without you having to remember to do it manually. ■

1 Cyber security breaches survey 2022: www.ncsc. gov.uk/cyberaware/ actionplan?cap=CA23gsr

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has lots of tools to help sole traders and small organisations protect themselves from cyber threats:

• You can receive a free, personalised action plan with tips to protect yourself from cyber attacks by answering a few simple questions online at: www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home

• Use Check Your Cyber Security to find any only online vulnerabilities at: www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/actionplan

• Read the Cyber Action Plan tool, plus more information and advice on cyber security, at: www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home

• Small Business Guide to Cyber Security is at: www.ncsc.gov.uk/smallbusiness

• Carry out online checks to assess your cyber security levels at: checkcybersecurity.service.ncsc.gov.uk Find out more at: cyberaware.gov.uk

How does Gas Safe Register keep your information safe?

Information collected by Gas Safe as part of running the Register is secure and processed in accordance with data protection legislation.

Gas Safe Register’s employees and representatives will only discuss registration information with the responsible person or listed contacts of a registered business, and will request proof of identity before disclosing personal information.

Each registered business is set up with a PIN, which will be requested when engineers use the Interactive Voice Response system or call Gas Safe’s Contact Centre. In addition to the PIN, the Contact Centre will ask several security questions to establish the identity of the caller. No information will be divulged where the identity of the enquiring party or individual cannot be verified.

Businesses who manage their registration online are given a unique user ID and password, which will be generated by the system and sent to the business electronically. They will also be asked to set up a security question, after which they can create and manage user accounts for their online account, as well as change passwords and security questions.

Gas Safe Register does not sell, share, transfer or rent the information it collects to any other organisation, other than as disclosed in its Privacy Policy. These include:

• Health & Safety Executive – to aid in its investigations

• Government departments

– where Gas Safe Register is legally obliged to provide information

• Regulatory bodies – where Gas Safe Register is legally obliged to provide information

• Local Authority Building Control – where gas work is reported

• Third parties – those which are authorised to provide gas work notification

• The general public – to enable them to find a registered business, or check an engineer is registered.