Swansea Post October 2007

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Tips for beating cyber criminals

With 78 billion spam emails being sent around the world every day, Welsh businesses are in danger of being snowed under by the increasing cyber threat.

When up to 95 per cent of all emails sent are spam, cyber criminals are becoming evermore intelligent in finding ways to break through defences to steal money.

But simple measures can be taken to minimise the invasion of your inbox.

Cardiff-base IT experts Circle IT have out together a seven step guide to help local businesses even the playing field when it comes to IT based threats:

• When surfing the web, if you are prompted for your email address, first read the privacy policy for the company. Make sure it states that they will not share your email address with anyone else, whether they are affiliated with their business or not. Also, what your remedy is if they do?
• If you subscribe to newsletters verify what their privacy policy is as well.
• If you receive an unsolicited newsletter, do not follow the unsubscribe, because then the senders will know that your email account actually exists and is in use.
• List your email address in public only when it’s absolutely necessary.
• Hide your email address if you participate in any newsgroups, online communities or at social networking websites such as openbc.com.
• Use your signature file only with trustworthy recipients, particularly when it includes your email address.
• If you fill out forms for prize draws, subscription cards or registration cards that prompt for your email address, leave it off.