Please share your tips on online security at home with Cyber Streetwise

[AnnMumsnet]

Cyber Streetwise say "If you're reading this you probably already do lots of things online like shopping, banking and using social networks. Your children probably play games on a console, smartphone or tablet, and chat to friends through messaging apps.

'Cyber Streetwise' is a new government campaign that aims to change the way people protect themselves while online, in order to avoid falling victim to cyber criminals. The campaign has wide support for across industry with more than 20 organisations involved, including Sophos, Facebook, Financial Fraud Action UK, RBS, Trend Micro and Vodafone to name a few.

Psychology and tech experts tell us that people don't always pay as much attention while online as they do when in the 'real' world. For example, you wouldn't leave your handbag open while shopping, so you should also be careful when entering your credit card details online. The speed of technology means we often forget the simple measures to be 'Cyber Streetwise'".

Now they'd love to hear what approaches Mumsnetters take regarding online security at home - whether you're totally on top of this or don't give it a second thought....

To get you thinking about this, here are some example questions...do feel free to add any comment about this topic though - all opinion welcome!

~ Who is in charge of making sure everything is safe and secure in your family?
~ Do you use the same simple password(s) all the time, and when did you last change them? Or do you have a complex system of passwords to use?
~ How many computers and other devices do you have that connect to the internet?
~ How often do you shop online, and what types of e-shops do you visit?
~ What do your children understand about online safety and security? How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?
~ Any other tips?

Thanks
MNHQ

PS: For more information on any aspect of the above please visit Cyber Streetwise and find out more here: //www.cyberstreetwise.com.
If you have a question then you can find them on Facebook and Twitter too.

[ErnestShufflebottom]

Use password with a mixture of lower and upper case plus numbers. Use different passwords for different sites and don't autosave. Don't write them down. Don't share them with anyone.

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

I always check that the site has a padlock on the address
Change password regularly
Have different password for different sites
Don't write down password
Don't auto save password on shared computer (I.e. Work)
Use hard to guess password e.g. Mix of numbers and upper/lower case letters

Am trying to teach DS about all this as he had his FIFA account hacked and all his players stolen I didn't even know this was possible but Microsoft refused to refund as they said he must have been lax with the login details. That was an expensive lesson!!

[Nottheshrinkingcapgrandpa]

I have a credit card that I only use online so if I am defrauded I don't loose access to my a counts.

[Ilikepinkwine]

Just wanted to share that it was working! DD had posted a lovely picture of her and a friend at a disco. When I said it was a nice photo she said that someone else had been in it but she didn't know if their mum would be happy about them being on Facebook yet so she cropped them out. Why can't more adults be like this? (Proud Mum)

Her sister also came to me all concerned because her friend plays with other people on Minecraft and she was worried they may not be who they say they are. Do you have to know them in RL to hook up on Minecraft does anyone know?

I'm so glad my messages are getting through but am concerned by the lack of awareness of some other parents.

[kslatts]

All my passwords are quite complicated with letters and numbers, I avoid using names and DOB's etc.

[AugustaAdaByron]

~ Who is in charge of making sure everything is safe and secure in your family?

My DH takes more of the responsibility but I would say lets it lapse for a while and then says "we must do X,Y,Z".

~ Do you use the same simple password(s) all the time, and when did you last change them? Or do you have a complex system of passwords to use?

Most passwords are complex. Not changed very often. Would like to set up a system for this. I think having most of but not all of the password written at home is maybe a good idea as more likely to be hacked than a burglar takes your password hints list.

~How many computers and other devices do you have that connect to the internet?

Desktop, laptops x 2, X-box, phones x 2, tablet, ipod touch.

~ How often do you shop online, and what types of e-shops do you visit?

Weekly. Mainly Ocado, John Lewis, Amazon, ebay. Use paypal as much as possible for any other ad hoc purchases.

~ What do your children understand about online safety and security? How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?

DS 6 - we've not talked to him much about this but he doesn't have internet access when we are not in the room yet.

~ Any other tips?

DH has blocked things via the wireless router. Not sure what it is exactly - I think someone mentioned it above - Open DNS.

I have a separate user profile on my tablet for DS and plan to investigate if we can set up a "white list" of sites he can access.

Someone told me the other day that ALL Facebook profile pictures and cover photos are public and cannot be made private and that includes any comments posted on those photos.

[MadMonkeys]

My top tip: don't answer questions about IT security on a public forum ;)

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

1. dp and I each responsible for our own, but no DC - if we had them then I think it would be a joint effort.
   
   
2. after a recent scare at the company i work for, I've now changed all of my passwords - there are some similarities but they are all different, whereas I used to use pretty much the same 2 for everything. I'm learning!
   
   
3. wii, xbox, laptop and two smartphones. So that would be five. The xbox isn't set up for the internet though.
   
   
4. quite a lot on ebay and amazon, some clothes shops etc too. Have recently discovered tesco online deliveries, which I love. I use paypal wherever I can, especially with unknown sellers (recently purchased a wedding dress through paypal, and liked the security that comes from the buyer protection thing).
   
   
5. not applicable
   
   
6. I find it useful to keep a record of everyone (website) who you've given your details to. Also, when you click 'unsubscribe' on stuff, the fact that companies uncheck the 'mail' box but still keep all your details on file - so to actually email them direct if you want to be removed from their system.

[starfishmummy]

Lots of passwords which I usually manage to forget on sites I only use occasionally

One credit card which is purely used for on line shopping so I could easily spot if it has been used fraudulently. Also I use a second email address when shopping on line.

Good antivirus and spam blocker and never click on anything that appears to be spam.

[tiredoutgran]

Who is in charge of making sure everything is safe and secure in your family?

I am

~ Do you use the same simple password(s) all the time, and when did you last change them? Or do you have a complex system of passwords to use?

I use complex passwords (upper and lower case plus numbers) for banking, email, amazon, paypal etc, they probably are not changed often enough really, every 6 months or so. The children are not allowed on the computer other than supervised and the tablets have parental controls in place with simple passwords, these have never been changed so are around 7 months old.

~ How many computers and other devices do you have that connect to the internet?

laptop, 2 tablets, 3 mobile phones, wii, 4 dsi

~ How often do you shop online, and what types of e-shops do you visit?

Probably weekly from Amazon and every few months from ebay

~ What do your children understand about online safety and security?

They understand that they are not allowed to access the internet without my entering the password and only under supervision

How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?

I explained that sometimes people are not who they seem to be and that is why I am so strict about it. They are not allowed in chat rooms or social networking sites, the girls were 6, 7 and 9. The 3 year old just knows he can't get anything without asking me first as he doesn't have any access.

~ Any other tips?

be as strict as you need to keep them safe and protect your own access to accounts with a serious password system

[Quoteunquote]

Brilliant thread.

[kelzw84]

Im the one in charge of safety and security in mine. although i no if i need help i can always call my stepdad who luckily lives just next door.

all my passwords are different and have numbers, letters, capital letters and symbols in them and are changed every 8-12 weeks.
we have 3 gadgets in our house. one mobile phone and 2 tablets.

I use mine for networking. online shopping and whatever else takes my fancy.
all gadgets are protected my password/pattern and pin numbers and also have antivirus and trackers on incase lost/stolen.

For online shopping its mainly ebay and amazon although will occassonally use other sites.

My son who is 8years old and has his own tablet has parental controls set on his and knows if he is unsure about any site to show me and ask first.
He knows not to join any sites before asking first or to give out any information.
We often speak about security and safety and does lessons in school on it.
He is only allowed to access the internet for 60minutes a day, although if doing homework i allow him longer.
he has to be in the same room as me when using the internet and if he wants to take his tablet to his room i disconnect the wifi and click to forget the details so that he cannot connect without me knowing.

[wyrdyBird]

Well, this is the advice I tend to give if asked...

• If shopping online, make sure you're happy about the reputation of the company you're dealing with.
  
• Look out for the https padlock before you enter personal data or credit card details.
  
  
• Think about who has your data, what they might do with it, or what a third party might want to do with it. Don't over share personal information in a public arena.
  
  
• Do not click on email links,or open attachments, if you are not expecting them, or feel the slightest doubt about them.
  
  
• Be extremely careful with any email purporting to come from a bank. Mostly, just delete. Keeps it simple!
  
  
• Use good AV, keep it up to date, and scan regularly
  
  I try to follow the advice too!

[AnnMumsnet]

Hello - just to share we are also hosting a Q&A on cyber security with National Fraud Authority and Dr Sue Black - do add a question if you can

[MumofDockgreen]

I am a South London Safer Schools Officer and a deal with online bullying all the time.
Only a couple of tips from the Thin Blue Line as I am working on a presentation for kids so should get back to it.
If your child reports online bullying do not delete the messages but screen shot the page. Pls do not edit out your child's mistakes and swearing etc it looks pretty obvious as often the replies don't make sense.

Use the report abuse button. We get anonymous reports this way and sometimes can do some background work to stop the abuse.

The 1st officer you report to may not appear too interested as they will not be investigating. Please do not throw up your hands in disgust we are under the cosh. Often theses reports are then sent to a Schools Officer or CID and we are trained and will get back to you. Sometimes our work load gets the better of us. Find out who has been allocated the crime and contact details. Ask for e-mail address as we can pick up messages at other locations and call u back. Please make it easy for us to get back to you. (If I don't get an answer I go on to the next piece of crime or out on patrol. If that happens over a few days. I will wait until you contact me)
E-mails times that you can speak to us. Our number comes out as private.
Sometimes the abuse isn't a crime we will try and work with you to come to some sort of solution.
If you teenager is in London you should have a dedicated officer for your Secondary School, ask who that is. If not ask for one from your local Divisional Commander.

[NettleTea]

~ Who is in charge of making sure everything is safe and secure in your family?
Just me

~ Do you use the same simple password(s) all the time, and when did you last change them? Or do you have a complex system of passwords to use?
Variations on a theme

~ How many computers and other devices do you have that connect to the internet?
6 things

~ How often do you shop online, and what types of e-shops do you visit?
lots, if not all apart from grocery. Ebay, gumtree, store shops and internet specific stores like amazon

~ What do your children understand about online safety and security? How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?
13 year old certainly aware, 7 year old with some kind of SEN not so aware - his stuff is pretty much clamped down hard.

~ Any other tips?
No tips, but my clever friend Steve May designed all the posters!!

[Varya]

I have large Doberman dog, who is aware instantly he hears the slightest sound. He patrols the garden perimeter looking for anything unusual. He is better than any security system and needs no password!

[SaltySeaBird]

Respect to Arfishy! That is the sort of set up I'd love but time, lack of knowledge and bad practices make it unlikely.

As the slightly more technical of the two of us Internet security is down to me. But we do use the same password for most things (or variations of it). My DH sometimes just uses the worst possible passwords.

Connected to the Internet we have two desktops, two laptops, iPad, 3DS, Xbox 360, 2 smart phones, Internet TV. Plenty of friends family have our wifi code for their devices when they are here too.

I shop a lot online. Mainly Amazon, eBay, Ocado, Sainsburys. But in an average month you could add another 5-10 stores depending on what we are buying.

My DD is too young to access the Internet but I'll be teaching her about online safety as soon as she can independently use any device connected to the Internet.

[TaraLott]

~ What do your children understand about online safety and security? How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?
~ Any other tips?

Don't get over involved with people you don't know.
Never meet strangers you have 'met' online.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

~ Who is in charge of making sure everything is safe and secure in your family?
It comes down to me as I'm the most confident and use computers more than DH.
~ Do you use the same simple password(s) all the time, and when did you last change them? Or do you have a complex system of passwords to use?
We have different passwords for lots of things but I do forget them sometimes or get them mixed up, which is a pain.
~ How many computers and other devices do you have that connect to the internet?
3 laptops, 2 hudls, a kindle fire and 3 mobile phones between 4 of us.
~ How often do you shop online, and what types of e-shops do you visit?
All the time and I use a wide range, including Amazon, supermarkets. ebay, Joe Browns, Littlewoods, Very, Debenhams a dn lots more.
~ What do your children understand about online safety and security? How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?
We are always discussing esafety as it is very current. They are pretty savvy but the main rule is if you're not sure, ask, so I hope we're pretty covered. their school is also very proactive so they'll often come home and discuss things.
~ Any other tips?
Talk, share, don't be scared of the internet, it's a wonderful thing when used safely.

[DrNick]

Don't meet random mumsnetters? ;)

[BrowneSugar]

Greatest respect Arfishy.

[arfishy]

~ Who is in charge of making sure everything is safe and secure in your family?

I am. I work in IT Security.

~ Do you use the same simple password(s) all the time, and when did you last change them? Or do you have a complex system of passwords to use?

I have unique passwords for each online account - non dictionary words, usually a mnemonic. I store my passwords in an encypted app on my phone. My phone is set to be wiped if I lose it.

~ How many computers and other devices do you have that connect to the internet?
We have 2 x work laptops, 3 x personal laptops, 5 smartphones, 2 x 3DS, 1 Xbox 360, 1 PS3, 3 x ipod touch & 1 Internet TV.

~ How often do you shop online, and what types of e-shops do you visit?
Daily - I try to buy most things online.

~ What do your children understand about online safety and security?
I block all internet devices from inappropriate sites using OpenDNS. DD (11) is not allowed internet access in her bedroom. As she has got old enough to have her own phone, which is outside of my internet filter I've taught her about how to be safe online rather than trusting that anything inappropriate will be blocked. Safety includes not revealing personal details at all, not trusting people online are who they say they are, appropriate searching, not sharing login information, not clicking popups, how to tell if a message is spam, saving any text messages which are mean to show me (thankfully it hasn't happened yet) etc. She's done online cyber safety courses and has regular sessions at school.

How do you talk to them about this? What age were they?
We talk all the time - it's part of our daily life in the same way that we talk about healthy eating, personal hygiene, looking after pets etc. She started cyber safety lessons at around 6 and they keep going and evolving as she gets older and uses the technology differently. I keep on top of the issues for teens and tweens so I keep up with it too.

I've spoken with her about photos - no instragram/snapchat or apps like that are allowed for now and she's not allowed Facebook. Sites like youtube and google are set to safesearch. I run my own minecraft server for her (which keeps me in control of what's going on) which she has set the rules on, so she's learning how to moderate access and run a safe minecraft server too.

We talk about which sites are safe and which are harvesting your email address/would download toolbars/expose you to much older children - she asks me before she can join a site and generally I say no. She's got an account on Moshi Monsters and I keep an eye on friend requests (ditto minecraft, I have to add players to the whitelist).

I try to keep a balance between trusting her to speak to me and locking things down. My instinct is to prevent access to bad stuff at all costs, but I know she needs to be taught how to be safe and make these decisions herself.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

PM'd you AnnMNHQ