October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and believe housing is sharing simple, practical advice to help customers stay safe online and protect personal information.
With three major cyber incidents already in the news this month, staying alert and protecting personal information has never been more important.
The run-up to Christmas, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and seasonal sales, can also give cyber scammers more chances to send convincing phishing emails. Customers should take extra care when clicking links or opening attachments.
believe housing takes data protection seriously and keeps personal information safe and secure, in line with data protection laws.
Here are the Cyber Security Team’s top tips for spotting scams and staying safe online:
- Use strong passwords
Choose passwords that are hard to guess and different for each account. Avoid using names or birthdays. A good tip is to use three random words that are easy to remember but tricky for others to guess. A password manager can help keep track.
- Add extra protection
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. It adds an extra step, such as a code sent to a phone, making it harder for attackers to access accounts.
- Keep devices updated
Install updates for phones, computers and apps as soon as they are available. Updates fix security gaps that attackers can use.
- Be scam-savvy
Scams often look like genuine messages from banks, delivery companies or even friends. Watch out for spelling mistakes or odd language, urgent messages asking for quick action, unexpected links or attachments, and requests for personal or financial information.
If something does not feel right, do not click. Take a moment to check first and make it harder for cyber criminals.
To report a scam, forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk or texts to 7726 (free of charge).
If affected by a scam, fraud or cybercrime, report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
This advice supports the 2026 campaign theme, ‘Don’t Make It Easy for Them’, which shows how small, everyday actions can make life harder for cyber criminals.
