Cyber Aware

Advice on how to stay secure online from the UK's National Cyber Security Centre.

Take your email security to another level

Your email is where you keep your most personal and financial information.

If a cyber criminal accesses your email, they could:

  • access your other online accounts using the 'forgot password' feature (which often sends you an email)
  • access personal or business information and use this to scam you or people you know

Action 1 - Turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV) for your email

2-Step Verification (2SV) gives you twice the protection so even if cyber criminals have your password, they can't access your email.

2SV works by asking for more information to prove your identity. For example, getting a code sent to your phone when you sign in using a new device or change settings such as your password.

You won't be asked for this every time you check your email.

 

How to turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV) on your email

Action 2 - Use a strong and different password for your email using 3 random words

Your email password should be strong and different from all your other passwords.

Combining 3 random words that each mean something to you is a great way to create a password that is easy to remember but hard to crack.

Do not use words that can be guessed (like your pet's name). You can include numbers and symbols if needed. For example, “Hippo!PizzaRocket1”

 

How to change your email password

Keeping your accounts and devices secure is just one way of stopping fraud. Find out how to protect yourself from different fraud types on the UK Government’s Stop! Think Fraud website.

Accessible formats

Accessible formats of the key actions from Cyber Aware are available from Lead Scotland's website. 

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