Expat Tax advice in Portugal

Security On-line security is of paramount importance. At Joseph Oliver we use industry standard security which we constantly review to counter new security threats and risks.

What you can do
PC's are becoming an important part of daily life, they can contain valuable and sometimes irreplaceable information. It is therefore important that you protect your PC and the information it may hold.

Anti-virus & firewall software
We strongly advise all customers to use both anti-virus software and a firewall to protect their PC when accessing the Internet. We would like to remind customers who have already installed anti-virus and firewall software that it is essential to regularly update the software by taking downloads from the supplier. Failure to do so may leave your equipment vulnerable to attack.

Web browsers
From time to time vulnerabilities are discovered in web browsers, however these can be eliminated by regularly downloading security updates and patches supplied by the software developer.

Emails
Email is a quick way to communicate, but unfortunately fraudsters also use the medium to target victims. Any emails sent from Joseph Oliver will be from the address info@joseph-oliver. Don't open emails from unknown senders. If you are in doubt about the source of an email, for example if you don't recognise the sender, it's advisable to delete it. Emails are often used to spread viruses, or download software that will allow unauthorised access to your PC. It is advisable to never open unexpected attachments.

For up to date information and advice on staying safe on-line visit www.banksafeonline.org.uk

Ensuring your online transactions are safe and secure
We use industry standard security technology and practices, focusing on three key areas - privacy, technology and identification to safeguard your account from any unauthorised access. However, you too can play your part in protecting your accounts. We use industry standard encryption common with internet banking.

Secure Sessions
When you log in you are in a secure session. (You know you are in a secure session if the URL address begins with https:// or a padlock symbol appears in the lower right hand corner of your browser.)

Encryption
SSL technology is used within your Internet session to encrypt your personal information before it leaves your computer, to ensure no one else can read it. Depending on your browser setting, a pop-up window will appear to notify you that you will be entering a secured page.
Encryption converts your data into an encoded form before it's sent over the Internet, stopping unauthorised users from reading the information. We use 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Encryption, which is accepted as the industry standard.

Email is not protected with encryption technology and is not usually secure.

Session Time-out
If you forget to log-off or your computer remains inactive for a period of time during a session, then our systems automatically log you off.

Technology
We use many layers of security - for obvious reasons we cannot disclose all of them, but the following are typically used:

Our operating systems are immediately updated with the latest security patches
Our anti-virus software is updated daily.
Our systems have firewalls to prevent unauthorised intruders.
Identification proceedures
We use log-ins and passwords to make sure we're dealing with you.
Online access to your account is only possible once you have verified yourself using the internet user ID and password. For this reason it is vital that you do not share your password and try not to use the same password for other services.

Automatic Lockout
After a number of incorrect attempts to log in, we disable online access to your account. To re-activate your account, you should contact us on +351 214 66 96 28.

What you can do
There are some simple things you can do to get the most protection for the least effort. By following these you will greatly increase your PC's protection, not just when you use our internet services but when you use the internet generally.

They are not all the measures you can take, but are an excellent start. They are equally applicable to business owners and to private individuals.

Update your operating system & browser on a regular basis
From time to time vulnerabilities are discovered in these programs. The publisher will then release a "patch" to correct this weakness. These weaknesses are regularly exploited by virus writers and hackers to gain unauthorised access to those PC's that have not been patched. To check for patches and updates you should visit the publisher's website, typically in their Download section.

Use and regularly update your anti-virus software
You may already be using anti-virus software but to be effective the software should be updated regularly with the latest virus definition files. (If you are unsure how to do this, you should refer to the programs Help function.)
It is also possible to obtain free anti-virus protection. A search for "free anti-virus" on a search engine will provide a list of the most popular.

Use a "personal firewall"
A firewall is another small program that helps protect your computer and its contents from outsiders on the internet. When installed it stops unauthorised traffic to and from your PC.

Keep passwords private, & don't use a common password for all your needs
Passwords are the key to your online account information. It is hard to juggle a multitude of different passwords and it is tempting to have the same password for everything. Doing this puts security at risk should anyone discover this single password. For this reason, you are strongly advised to have a unique password. When choosing a suitable password, you might consider the following:

Be different - Avoid using the same password for different services.
Try not to be tempted to use passwords that can be easily guessed, e.g. children's names, pet's names, birth dates, telephone numbers.
Never write them down - If you need to record them use a code system, e.g. transpose some of the letters.

Security tips
Don't share computers
Disable your computer's 'File and Printer Sharing' capabilities to help prevent unauthorised access. (Use your computer's Help function for instructions.)

File extensions
Most operating systems use file extensions. (e.g.. a word document ends in .doc and a photo image might end in .jpg)

By default some operating systems do not show these extensions. Whilst this presents cleaner looking file names, it also provides viruses with a means to hide. (Use your computer's Help function for further instructions.)

Be wary of opening any unexpected emails with attachments
A common way for a virus to spread is via email. Some viruses send copies of themselves to everyone in the infected PC's address book. This means it could appear to come from someone you know.

E-mail attachments that contains a file ending .exe, .pif, .vbs are commonly used with viruses.

File Sharing
File sharing is a growing activity on the internet and in simple terms allows you to access other people's files and them to access yours. Typically these are music files, but with most of these sites it is possible to pass any type of file from one computer to another. By allowing your computer to be accessed in this way it is possible for viruses, trojan horses (see glossary section) and other harmful software to infect your computer. We recommend that you avoid using file sharing services.
Keep your Internet session secure

You should ensure that you and your family are aware of potential pitfalls and know the best way to deal with them.

Logging in
Ensure you enter your password (s) without being seen.

Logging off
Remember to log off and close your browser when you have finished your session.

User ID tips
Your user ID and password are your keys to accessing our online services. Only the right combination of these allows you access.

Always enter the web address or use a Favourite. Do not use a link as this could in theory take you to a phoney web site that may look exactly like ours.

Try to avoid using shared public PCs, such as those in Internet cafes, to access our Internet service.

Keep your emails secure
Generally, email that is sent or received through a regular email address (e.g. yourname@hotmail.com) is not secured or encrypted to protect the content. Therefore, any personal information you include in an email is at risk of being intercepted by unauthorised individuals. Do not send your Internet user ID and/or passwords by email to anyone - ever.

Email tips
Never send sensitive information by email.

Don't answer any unexpected email requesting personal information.

Be wary of opening any unexpected emails with attachments. A common way for a virus to spread is via email. Some viruses send copies of themselves to everyone in the infected PC's address book. This means it could appear to come from someone you know.

Never open an e-mail attachment that contains a file ending .exe, .pif, .vbs as these are commonly used with viruses.

Review who you use as your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Apart from varying prices, ISP's now offer a range of services that include virus protection on incoming e-mails.

Protect yourself - even when you're offline:
Even when you are offline, there's much that you can do to protect yourself. This centres on keeping private information strictly private.

Top offline tips
Keep your details safe. Don't be tempted to share your User IDs, password or any unique personal identifier / details with someone else.

Nor should you supply personal information to anyone over the phone or to a website unless the source has been verified, or you initiated the call yourself. We would never ask for internet passwords over the phone if we initiate the call.

You should memorise your Passwords; do not record information in wallets or purses.

Keep yourself and your property safe and protected to minimise your risk of theft. Be careful of any personal information you discard. If you can, destroy receipts, pre-approved credit card applications, bank statements and any bills that contain personal information.