Cyber attack
The range of malicious activity and cyber dangers continues to expand, presenting a significant risk to individuals, businesses and communities.
Cyber security is everyone’s responsibility. It is vital that all individuals and organisations embrace and embed cyber security in their online practices.
How you could be affected
A cyber attack could result in:
- disruption to daily life
- financial loss
- stolen sensitive / personal information
- damage to personal / business reputation
What you should do
Be prepared
- Be cautious when sharing personal information - always verify the credentials of organisations or people first before giving your personal details (name, address, bank details, email address or phone number)
- Protect your devices - make sure your computer and phone have up to date anti-virus software and a firewall installed
- Spot the signs of scams - many fraudulent activities begin with phishing. Visit the National Cyber Security Centre for advice and guidance on spotting and reporting scam emails, texts, websites and calls
- Sign up for alerts - visit Action Fraud Alert and register to receive free, direct, accurate information about scams and fraud in your area
During the incident
- Report a cybercrime - if you think you've been a victim of an online scam or fraud, you should report it to:
- Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040
- Leicestershire Police or call 101
- Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111
After the incident
- Back up your data - make your data recoverable in the event that your IT equipment is compromised. Ensure backups are regularly maintained on a separate device or in the cloud
- Remain vigilant against phishing scams - always question emails, texts or calls that you didn't expect. Scams usually put pressure to act urgently and want to trick you into providing personal information, downloading infected attachments or clicking malicious links
- Keep maintaining updates - your devices will usually inform you that your system needs to be updated, but you can also manually check whether a new version is available