Computer Security

Viruses can infect your computer and cause damage to personal documents or the computer hard drive. They can spread from computer to computer easily. Hackers or software such as spyware can access your computer stealing your personal information. Protecting the security of your computer is fundamental in avoiding fraud.

What to look for:

Hoax emails and websites

This is known as phishing, because fraudsters don't actually have your details - they're "phishing" for them. They send you an email that looks like it's from your bank, a company you regularly do business with or a social networking site pretending there's a problem with your account or something similar.

The email will often provide a link to a fake website that looks very similar to a genuine website you use. Here you'll be asked to disclose personal information such as passwords. These could then be used to access details about you and your account. In the wrong hands someone could impersonate you online and buy products in your name.

There's a really simple checks that you can do - look at the address bar at the top of the page. If it doesn't begin https:// then it's not secure and you should not enter any personal details or credit card information.

Viruses and spyware

Attachments from emails can carry viruses. If you download an attachment that carries a virus it can be sent on via your email address book to other people. You may receive an email form someone offering you something that might interest you, such as an attachment containing a photo. This is called a Trojan email and can allow fraudsters to access your programs and files.

Downloading files and images from un-reputable sites could put your computer at risk to a virus. Email attachments may contain hidden viruses - these might be flagged by your email provider as a "Macro-Virus". If you recieve more spam on your computer or, your internet connection is slower than usual, this may indicate Spyware has been downloaded without you knowing. If your internet browser loads a new window with lots of pop ups and banners, again this could indicate a website where Spyware is active.

Always ensure that your Wi-Fi access is secure, preventing hackers from gaining access to your computer via a wireless link.

Avoiding online fraud

There are lots of ways you can safeguard yourself against online fraud:

• Do not reply to emails that ask you to provide personal information or verify your account. Barclaycard and our credit card partners will never request sensitive information in any unsecured communications such as email
• When logging on to banking and membership websites, ensure that you type in the web address rather than clicking on a link - especially in emails
• It is important to keep your personal details up to date. If your address, work, home or mobile number changes, let us know so that we can update our records and contact you as soon as possible, if we identify anything suspicious
• Set up a spam filter on your email account to help block "phishing" emails
• Keep your PC secure by keeping your antivirus and anti-spying software up-to-date
• Choose strong passwords with a mix of several letters and numbers. Use different passwords for different websites and never reveal them to anyone
• Be extra careful if you're using someone else's PC, such as work, college, or an internet cafe
• Always log off your personal accounts before accessing other websites or walking away from your computer. Never leave your PC unattended when you're logged into your account
• When buying online always check for a padlock icon in the bottom right corner of your browser and the prefix "https://", which indicates that the site is secure
• If you use social networking sites, limit the amount of personal information you give away and select the highest privacy settings available
• Never share your passwords or PIN numbers with other people
• If you move home, redirect your post for at least six months
• Shred any documents that contain personal information before you throw them away

How we protect you

We've worked hard to ensure mybarclaycard online account servicing is very secure:

• When you connect to your account online, your session is encrypted
• We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol and 128 bit encryption to protect your session
• We'll automatically log you out after a designated period of inactivity

Register with mybarclaycard online account servicing.