Data protection and privacy

Phishing techniques often use emails or messages, advertisements or websites that look very similar to ones you already know. For example, a person attempting a phishing attack may send you an email that looks like it came from your bank, asking for your account information. Phishing emails or phishing sites may ask questions such as:

• Usernames and passwords, including password changes.

• Social security numbers.

• Bank account numbers.

• Personal identification numbers (PINs).

• Credit card numbers.

• Your mother's name.

• Your date of birth.

If your system detects a suspicious or potentially phishing email, it may be placed in Spam or you may receive a warning, but it may also not be directly marked as Spam and appear in your inbox.

How can you spot a phishing message?

• If you receive an email attachment from someone you don't know, or even if you do, if you are suspicious - delete it directly and/or check the information with the sender before opening the attachment. Always scan it with an antivirus program before opening it to avoid possible infection.

• Avoid clicking on links that come to you via email or instant messaging.

• Be suspicious of emails that contain incorrect spelling, grammatical and spelling errors, and if they have an impersonal tone, starting messages with "Hello friend" or "Dear customer."

• Beware of unexpected messages that tell you that you have "won the lottery," that you need to send money to your "grandchild," or that you need to help a distant friend "transfer funds."

• Urgency is a key part of phishing messages, usually a request to do something immediately. It's a signal to be careful. In addition to fear, be wary of fake virus alerts or false threats.

• Beware of fake bills or calls for payment that arrive in your email inbox. These are information that we have not paid some small amount. Consider whether you are working with the company in question, and if so, it is better to call customer service and explain the matter.

• If you detect a phishing email, let your friends know so they don't fall for the scam.

• A misspelled URL is one of the most visible signs of a fake site. Fraudsters may use a similar URL name, such as amaz0n.com, or a different domain extension, such as amazon.org instead of amazon.com.

• Pay particular attention to the design of the site - does it have the layout and visual quality you would normally expect from a real website? Low resolution images and strange layouts can be a warning of a scam.

• Look for the padlock icon in the top left corner. If the site has an SSL/TLS certificate, a lock on the page means that the data on the site is encrypted.

• Is the funding source (sponsor) clear? Sometimes a website address is useful. For example:

  • .edu stands for an educational institution such as a school, college or university.

  • .org usually stands for non-profit organisations.

  • .com stands for commercial sites (such as companies).

• Who wrote it? Reputable websites contain contact information that can be used to contact the sponsor or authors of the site. An email address, phone number and/or postal address may be at the bottom of each page or on the 'About Us' or 'Contact Us' page.

• Please note that just because it comes from a friend or colleague does not mean it is not fake.

Precautions to be taken:

• It is essential that the website where you enter your bank details is secure, the identifier goes from http:// to https:// (indicating a secure server).

• It is not advisable to buy if the website does not clearly indicate your details, the identity and address of the company, the characteristics of the product or service, its price, the price of transport, the method of payment, the method of delivery and the cancellation information.

• The terms of delivery must be clearly stated during the purchase process.

• If the goods are returned, the shop is obliged to refund the amount paid within 14 calendar days.

• The use of a credit card linked to a bank account is simple and secure only for online payments.

• It is necessary to monitor what information the website gives us about the use of our personal data, and it is not necessary to fill in unnecessary forms or surveys to buy online.

• If there is a problem, the first thing to do is to try to resolve it with the seller through their customer service department. If this is not resolved, you can refer the matter to consumer law mediators. If you are a victim of crime on the Internet, you should report it to the police.

• When we make an online purchase, products are protected by the same guarantees as when we buy them in a stationary shop. When you receive a product, we must check the condition in which it arrived and try to verify that it was not damaged in transit. If this is the case, you can return it, stating the reason.

• If you pay by credit card debit authorisation, remember that you can request the merchant to reverse the debit in favour of the card issuer in order to undo the transaction within the time limit, which varies from bank to bank.

• When prices are very attractive, be careful, it could be a mistake or a scam. It is best to seek references from the seller before making payment to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

Cookies store some data that identifies your computer as unique to this website. They are generally used to know which pages you visit, especially if they are login pages.

Cookies are small text files that websites send to your browser. They are stored in your browser directory. They are created when you visit the website. They store information about your preferences and activity on the website, such as language, settings, login data, browsing history, etc.

Cookies are used by websites to personalise content, analyse website traffic, remember sessions.

When you want to delete cookies, you can do so in your browser settings.

How to use social media safely?

Using social media safely is key to protecting your privacy, online safety and wellbeing, Keeping safe online requires constant attention and awareness. Here are some key tips and recommendations:

1. Set strong passwords:

- Use unique, strong passwords for each social media platform.

- Change passwords regularly to increase account security.

2 Manage your privacy settings:

- Configure your privacy settings to control who can see your content and information.

- Regularly check and adjust your privacy settings according to your preferences.

Some sites automatically share what you post with everyone on the internet. Look in the Settings section to control who can see your social media profile, photos and friends, how they can search for you, who can add comments and how to block unwanted access.

3 Be careful with personal information:

- Avoid sharing excessive personal information such as phone number, home address or full personal details.

- Be aware of the risks involved in publishing information about current life events.

4 Be alert to scams and phishing:

- Do not click on suspicious links or open attachments from unknown sources.

- Be alert to phishing attempts, especially in private messages.

5. be careful with friend invitations:

- Only accept friend invitations from people you know personally

- Check profiles before accepting invitations.

7 Check notification settings:

- Set up notifications to receive alerts in the event of unauthorised access or other account irregularities.

8 Be careful with geolocation:

- Turn off the geolocation function when it is not needed to avoid sharing your current location.

9. Thoughtful publishing:

- Before publishing content, consider whether you want it to be publicly available.

- Avoid publishing impulsive comments or photos.