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Stay Safe - Don't Click

The effect on the NHS may have taken the top headlines but the recent cyber attack hit hundreds of thousands of computers across the globe. Interestingly, it seems to have been the bigger institutions which were hardest hit; leading one commentator to theorise that individuals and smaller businesses were more likely to simply accept automatic security updates and therefore be protected by a patch against this virus which Microsoft sent out in March.

Nevertheless it is a wake-up call for everyone about the dangers of cyber crime and the importance of staying safe online. Simple precautions include:

* Never click on emails from unknown sources.

* Be aware that scammers can disguise email addresses so never ‘click-back’. If you think that your bank or other financial institution may be contacting you then log in to your account separately rather than via an e-mail.

* Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and that your computer is set up to install security patches as soon as they are available.

And be aware of any ‘cold call’ which asks you to provide personal details. Your bank will never ask for your account number, PIN or any other information and it will certainly never ask you to transfer money to a ‘safe’ account.

Finally, if you receive a call out of the blue offering investment or pension transfer advice, put the phone down. Figures from the City of London police reveal that losses from pension scams hit a record high of £8.6m in March; and that’s just the scams which were reported.

If you’re looking for pensions or investment advice, or if your situation has changed and you may therefore need to review your existing investments, contact Beckworth by using one of the links on our website.