At some point or another we’ve all used digital products or services, whether that’s banking online, or buying an outfit from ASOS.

But as their prevalence rises, with many people going online for their banking, to access their benefits and even to keep track of their health and order prescriptions, experts say it’s more important than ever to protect your data and stay safe.

According to the Ann Craft Trust‘s research into online safety, 88% of respondents had encountered online scams, meaning security is crucial when using digital services like mobile banking.

Here, experts explain the basics of staying safe online, including how to access online banking and being aware of potential scams.

What is data protection?

“Data protection is all about keeping your personal information safe when using digital products like apps, websites, and online services,” John Webb, consumer expert at Experian, told the Big Issue. “It ensures that your data isn’t misused, stolen, or accessed by people who shouldn’t have it.”

Webb explained that data protection is important for numerous reasons, including keeping your privacy safe, preventing scams and fraud, and building trust with online services and products.

He explained that if you’re “suspicious of a website or app”, you should avoid using it or “granting it permissions that might compromise your data”. The government’s National Cyber Security Center explains that your bank or other official sources would never ask for your personal information or bank details online or in an email, so if a website or email urges you to hand over personal information, report it using its website. Other ways to spot a suspicious website could include spelling mistakes in the URL, missing security steps like the padlock icon next to the URL, or offers on the page that are “too good to be true”.

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, added: “In terms of data protection, we don’t feel there is enough support out there around why data protection is important, and why companies place such a high value on your data.

“You should place high value on your data, because [companies] want it for a reason.”

“Organisations like the UK Safer Internet Center provide tips and resources that can help you, and there’s also the government’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) – which sounds a bit James Bond – but they have a lot of really accessible and understandable advice for how you stay safe online, why it’s important to keep your password safe, what multi-factor authentication is, and why it’s important and how you use it.”

How can I stay secure online?

Experts say that getting online can have great benefits, like access to better deals, convenience and greater accessibility when it comes applying for jobs, however it’s crucial to be “cautious” – as having less secure accounts, or using suspicious websites, could lead to being scammed.

“The most important thing is to keep your data safe and your accounts secure from fraudsters,” Webb explained. “You can do this by having strong unique passwords for all your accounts. Making sure they’re not something that someone, especially a fraudster, could guess. Avoiding things like pet names or mother’s maiden name is key.

“It’s also a good idea to make sure sites are secure when shopping online. Look for the padlock next to the web address before entering any card details. It’s also vital to never use unsecured public WiFi when entering card details or passwords.”

The NCSC has laid out a few further tips for staying safe online, including using secure passwords and multi-factor authentication. It explains that a secure password that is harder to crack could contain three random words, like AppleGuitarButtercup. It also urged users to install the latest software and app updates to their devices, as they may contain crucial security updates.

Hannah Whelan, advocacy manager at digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation, explained that it’s important to ensure people have the skills to stay secure online, as well as access to the devices and data they need to reap the benefits of being online. In order to be digitally included, she explained, users must have “a safe and reliable internet connection, have a trusted digital device, and importantly, have the confidence and skills to navigate the online world”.

Whelan highlighted the Good Things Foundation’s platform Learn My Way, which is “free and available for everyone” to help them improve their digital literacy skills, including staying safe online. New topics on data privacy and digital wellbeing launched on 1 May to help people feel “digitally confident, so people know their rights and protections”.

How do I stay safe when using online banking?

Experts explain that online banking is “safe and convenient”, and can help you stay on top of your money, as you have access to your account balance at all times, which may help with budgeting.

Webb provided several tips to stay secure while online banking, including ensuring you use strong unique passwords for each of your accounts, using a biometric login if possible (such as fingerprints) or two-factor authentication, and never entering your login details on a public WiFi.

He added that it’s important to avoid “phishing scams where a fraudster will try to get access to your accounts”; a phishing scam could come in the form of emails, phone calls and text messages, and may come in the form of a link directing you to log in to your account, or an attachment through an email. These links could be set up as a method of stealing your personal information, like passwords.

The NCSC has given plenty of advice as to what steps to take if you think you’ve been a victim of a phishing scam, which could include steps like calling your bank, or changing the passwords on your accounts.

“Cyber criminals may contact you via email, text, phone call or via social media. They will often pretend to be someone (or an organisation) you trust,” the NCSC explains. It stated that scam calls, texts or emails may have a sense of “urgency” – for example asking for money within a 24-hour period – or that scammers could prey on your emotions, by pretending to be a relative in trouble, for example. If you’re wary of a phone call, text, or email, it’s best to report it.

Whelan highlighted that asking for help, whether that’s from your bank or from an organisation like Good Things Foundation, Digital Poverty Alliance, Turn2us, or Citizens Advice, can help ensure you’re banking online safely.

“Asking for help when you need it is another good way of making sure you’re keeping on top of your online safety,” she said. “If something doesn’t make sense, you can contact your bank. You can check the phone number that people called you from to make sure it’s a legitimate source. Being wary of scams, making sure you’re using things like secure WiFi, updating your devices so they’re protected against security flaws.”

“These might seem like very simple steps to people’s online safety, but I think they’re integral,” she explained.

What if I can’t access benefits online?

Digital Poverty Alliance’s Anderson explained that many people have difficulties accessing online products and services, with 26% of young people unable to access a laptop or similar device, and 53% of people offline in the UK unable to afford an average monthly broadband bill. This can impact those applying for benefits such as universal credit, which operates online first.

“We define digital poverty as the inability of an individual to be able to access online services, ‘when, where, and how they need to’,” Anderson said.

“We’re looking at this through the lens of affordability, but we’re also looking at this through skills, and we’re also looking at it through infrastructure as well. There’s a lot of different factors that sit within it. For many people – for about four million people – the entry barrier is that they can’t afford a laptop and or they can’t afford connectivity to actually get onto the internet.”

She added that applying for benefits can involve “quite long, complicated forms to fill in”, and many people may not be digitally included enough to access the process.

“There’s quite a lot of barriers. That’s quite a lot of things that can really make this difficult and challenging for people,” she explained.

Digital Poverty Alliance said it encourages anyone who is struggling to use an online service to visit its website, where people can “find useful resources and information on where to get help locally”.

Halide Kalfaoglu, benefits expert at Turn2us, added that in some cases “benefits can be applied for by phone or post”, and that it’s worth exploring your options if you don’t have the resources you need to complete your benefits application online.

“It’s also worth checking if the specific benefits office (like the Department for Work and Pensions or Social Security Scotland) offers this, as government departments should provide accessible versions of all benefits applications,” Kalfaoglu added.

Can I get help to transfer to digital?

If you’re not used to accessing banking or other systems – such as universal credit or PIP – online, experts say there is help out there to ensure you can make the transition to digital systems.

Kalfaoglu explained: “If you’re not confident with technology, free support is available. Local councils, libraries, and community centres often help with online forms.

“Charities like Age UK and Citizens Advice offer in-person or phone support, digital skills sessions, and can sometimes complete applications for you. Use the Turn2us Find an Adviser tool to get help near you.”

Whelan added: “There are a range of different organisations available to help, local libraries, your local food bank and community organisations. These are very trusted, in-person sources where people can get the assistance they need.

“People’s sense of self-efficacy, their confidence, is built when they feel safe, and safety and trust is so intrinsic for people to feel confident and empowered online.”

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