Flow observes Safer Internet Day

Taking personal responsibility for online privacy and security is the essential element in stemming the tide of cybercrime.

Network Manager at Flow Barbados, Shawn Holder highlighted that simple steps which everyone can take include: installing anti-virus software on your PC; selecting stronger passwords; being careful when sharing sensitive data; using a VPN when encrypting data online; and establishing Digital Home Security.

He was at the time presenting at Flow’s media roundtable, as the telecommunications company joined with 130 countries around the world to observe Safer Internet Day under the theme “Create, Connect and Share Respect: A Better Internet Starts With You!”, yesterday.

The Network Manager also shared that in recent times, some of their customers have been receiving suspicious emails purporting to be actual and proper organisations. He stressed that these messages are phishing attempts and are not legitimate.

Holder explained that a phishing attempt is an effort to collect confidential information from Internet users, typically by sending an email that looks as if it is from a legitimate organisation but contains a link to a fake web site that replicates the real one. The data that is obtained is then usually used for illicit purposes. He is therefore advising Flow customers who have received such a suspicious email, to disregard and delete immediately.

Holder further stressed that Flow will never ask in an email to verify sensitive information such as full account number, Username, Password or National ID Number.

Holder also conducted a tour of the data centre located at Flow’s corporate office in Warrens. In addition to its expansive subsea fibre network, the company also has several interconnected data centres spread throughout the Caribbean and Latin America that handles most of the Internet traffic for the region. Moreover, the telecommunications provider is urging all stakeholders to play their part in creating a better Internet for everyone, in particular the very young and old who are typically the two most vulnerable groups of online users.

“Our young children and our senior citizens are the most vulnerable groups. We previously worked with children highlighting safer Internet [use] and we are looking to work with the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) in the near future – to work with their membership in terms of how they use the Internet in a secure way,” said Marilyn Sealy, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Management, Flow Barbados. (TL)