Student using laptop to complete university work in halls bedroom

The Cybercrime Awareness Clinic has produced a wide range of advice and tips to protect against cybercrime

8 April 2020

3 min read

Cyber Security Cybercrime School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Coronavirus

As we find ourselves in lockdown due to the global coronavirus pandemic, more of us are spending an increasing amount of our time online, either for work, communicating with friends and family, shopping or entertainment.

To help our local community and businesses to stay safe online, our Cybercrime Awareness Clinic has produced a wide range of advice and tips to protect themselves from cybercrime. The Clinic has also compiled a list of reputable and verified resources providing further advice in relation to cybercrime and coronavirus:

General

  • Cyber Griffin – this is a link to a series of cyber awareness advice videos from the City of London Police Cyber Griffin team
  • SWGfL – general cybersecurity advice to help keep safe online during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Take Five – advice from the national Take Five campaign on spotting and avoiding scams during the coronavirus pandemic

Older People

  • Age UK – advice on how to spot and avoid scams
  • National Crime Agency – advice about avoiding fraud and scams during the coronavirus pandemic. Includes advice on online Shopping and auction fraud, computer software service fraud, lender loan fraud, pension liberation fraud and investment fraud

Children and Young People

  • BBC Bitesize – advice for young people on spotting fake news
  • Childline – advice on staying safe online including how to spot fake news
  • The Mix – advice for under 25s on dealing with anxiety about the coronavirus pandemic, including taking breaks from social media and learning how to spot fake news
  • Safer Internet UK – links to a range of services provided to support teachers, parents and young people
  • SWGfL – advice for young people on how to stay safe while meeting new people online from the South West Grid for Learning

Small and Medium Organisations

Working from Home

  • Stay Safe Online – working from home resource library from the National Cyber Security Alliance.

The Director of the University’s Cybercrime Awareness Clinic, Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, has published an article in PrivSec Report summarising some of the new cyberthreats arising from this unprecedented situation. Dr Karagiannopoulos also includes simple advice and tips to help avoid falling victim or passing on scams and misinformation to others.

If you live or work in the Portsmouth area and you still need further advice or support, please email the Cybercrime Awareness Clinic cyber-awareness@port.ac.uk