Digital Basics Guide

When using a digital system or device, you will usually need to use some information to keep things secure or to create you a profile. 
Creating a profile can mean a lot of different things depending on what you are doing or are trying to access. 

Admin Account

Normally when using a device for the first time you will need to create an admin account, this will consist of a username and password. Note that this is locally for the device and you shouldn’t use this anywhere else. 

Internet Exploration 

When you have your device setup, you’ll probably want to start using the internet. A lot of website will enable you to create a profile so that they can keep some information about you, whether the be for helping keep a record of orders or creating a profile for you to use social media to post update about your life. 

Regardless of what you intend to do, just like in real life you will need somewhere to direct a lot of information that you will have sent to you. You will need to setup an Email Address (electronic email), While at the University of Staffordshire you will have an email address created already that you can use however it should be used for academic purposes.

To create an email address you will need decide what platform you wish to use, there are a few such as Outlook (Microsoft), Gmail (Google) and Yahoo. Once you have decided on a platform you will need to create an account username and password. An username is what will be displayed when sending and receiving emails as well as what you will place in other account creation pages on different website. Creating a strong username and email is important to ensure that people can contact you and that it remains professional. A good example is using your first and last name like ; 

• Jane.Doe@Mail.com or J.Doe@mail.com (everything after the @ will be automatically inputted based on your platform of your choice)

A bad example however would be including either inappropriate names, words or including sensitive information such as date of birth:

• Johnnyboy1999.com or ILoveBees@Mail.com 

Password advice can be found on the Digital Services website. It is a good idea to avoid using the same passwords for multiple accounts on websites as if one gets leaked then you are comprised across all your accounts. Instead have different passwords with various combinations of numbers, capitalisations and symbols to protect yourself. 

Please review the working securely page for more information around this topic. 

Information outside of your name is your personal information, items including:

• Date of Birth 
• Where you live
• Passwords
• Phone Numbers 
• Bank Details 
• National Insurance Number
• Health information 

Should not be given out or uploaded on every website as this can lead to identity theft. Be aware of what you are accessing and if it is secure. You should only upload this information if you are sure you know where this information is going, why your information is needed and if it is legitimate. 
Places where you might use this information maybe be like: 

• Booking a doctor’s appointment 
• Accessing your Bank Account 
• Paying for bills online 

Less sensitive information like your date of birth might be required to access website and content that is over an age limit:

• Social Media 
• Watching online content like films 
• Purchasing goods 

Make sure that the pages you are using are legitimate, you can often review the page’s URL and check for any discrepancies in spelling. Additionally, there will be a lock on secure websites. You can also use Norton’s Websafe to check if a website is safe and legit. It is your responsibility to ensure that where you place your information is safe and secure don’t:

• Don’t Share Personal Information Publicly: Avoid posting sensitive information (like your address, phone number, or national insurance number) on social media or public forums.
• Don’t Use Weak Passwords: Never use easy-to-guess passwords, like "123456" or "password." Always create strong, unique passwords for each account.
• Don’t Click on Suspicious Links: Be cautious of emails, messages, or pop-ups that ask for personal information or prompt you to click on links. If it seems suspicious, don’t click!
• Don’t Ignore Software Updates: Don’t postpone or ignore updates for your operating system or applications. These updates often include important security patches.
• Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Transactions: Avoid entering sensitive information (like banking details) when connected to public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be insecure.
• Don’t Forget to Log Out: Always log out of accounts, especially on shared or public computers, to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information.
• Don’t Store Passwords in Plain Text: Don’t keep passwords written down in easily accessible places (like sticky notes on your desk). Use a password manager instead.
• Don’t Use the Same Password for Everything: Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, others may be at risk.
• Don’t Open Email Attachments from Unknown Sources: Never open attachments or download files from unknown senders, as they may contain malware.
• Don’t Assume Security Software is Optional: Always use security software (like antivirus programs) on your devices. It helps protect against viruses and unauthorised access.