Britons who have woken up to a new gadget in their Christmas stocking should make them secure before connecting to the internet, Get Safe Online is warning.
This Christmas, many will have received new phones, smart watches, games consoles and other connected gadgets which users need to protect themselves in order to not fall victim to the rising tide of cyber-crime.
More than a quarter of people believe they don’t need security software on their devices at all, research for the awareness group shows.
Christmas treat: People of all ages will have received new gadgets for Christmas this year
It says that while it can be tempting to unwrap brand new devices and connect them to the internet straight away, it is important that necessary security steps are taken initially to avoid issues with cyber fraud further down the line.
This year has seen an increase in popularity surrounding new connected home devices, particularly with the launch of the Amazon Echo, seeing them rise to the top of many Christmas wish lists.
Forming part of the ‘internet of things’ – smart heating, speakers, security cameras, lighting and even refrigerators – can still be vulnerable to attack as they connect to the internet. Many may not be aware this is the case.
Furthermore, 26 per cent admit they don’t know how to update security software on their smartphones.
By 2020, more than 24billion internet-connected devices will be installed globally — that’s around four devices for every human on earth.
Tony Neate, chief executive of GSO, said: ‘There’s nothing more exciting than getting a new mobile phone or gadget for Christmas, but people need to think twice before ripping open the packaging and plugging in.
‘It is important to ensure that your connection is secure and you have set up passwords correctly.
‘Otherwise you can be setting yourself up for security issues further down the line. It’s also important to think of other new devices in the same way.
‘Smart devices such as watches and home hubs, also connect to the internet, so the same rules apply.’
GSO is also warning that people need to dispose of unwanted devices properly.
At Christmas, with all the new gifts, there in turn becomes a surplus of unwanted mobiles and other devices. In the UK, there is an estimated 80million redundant mobile phones.
GSO says the data on your device can easily be accessed whether you sell, scrap, give away or donate it, and even ‘deleted’ data can be retrieved with relative ease by criminals.
Tony adds: ‘When it comes to getting rid of those pre-loved devices, think carefully about how and where you dispose of them.
‘You wouldn’t put your bank statements straight into the bin, so why would you pass on your phone to a stranger without ensuring all your personal data had been properly removed?’
