Staying safe online

Browser applications are always being updated to improve performance and security, so download any updates straight away.

These are great tools to help keep fraudsters and viruses at bay. Use them to keep your computer secure and install any updates as soon as they’re released.

If you receive an email asking you for your banking or log-in details, it’s a scam. We’ll never ask you for your account information or passcodes in an email. It might look like it’s from your bank or another official business, but they often have links to fake websites.

Not sure? Check for a padlock icon in the bottom right corner of your browser, and the address bar on your screen – if it doesn’t start with https it’s not secure. It’s a good idea to set up a spam filter on your email account, to help block scam emails. If you think you’ve received a scam email, forward it to our internet security team internetsecurity@barclays.com .

When you visit a webpage, your browser stores the page, so you can access it quickly next time. If you’re using a shared computer, it’s safer if the page you’re on isn’t stored.

For peace of mind, clear your browser cache manually by following your browser instructions. We instruct browsers not to store your personal information in their memory or cache where we can.

Before you open an email attachment, stop and think. Attachments can carry viruses – known as a Trojan email in the business – and by downloading it, fraudsters could get access to your programs and files. 

If you get lots of spam, or your internet connection is slower than usual, spyware may have been downloaded. When it’s active, you'll notice pop-ups and banners appearing on your computer. To stop fraudsters getting access to your computer through a wireless link, make sure your Wi-Fi access is secure by creating a unique password with a mix of numbers and letters.