Online security

We consider good security to be the foundation of customer trust, and for us this makes it sound business practice.

We use the latest security techniques - whether physical, technology, or process-related. Plus, we regularly upgrade this protection in response to advances in security threats and the techniques to combat them.

A padlock appears at the start of our address to show it’s a secure connection to our website. However, a padlock shouldn’t be the only check you make to confirm a website’s legitimacy (fraudsters have found ways of faking the padlock’s appearance).

If you haven’t visited a site before, spend some time investigating the ‘About us’ section. If it contains poorly written English this could be a red flag. You can also check a site’s authenticity by researching it using a respected search engine or an established customer or business review site.

Fidelity is a member of Cifas, the UK’s fraud prevention agency, which works closely with UK law enforcement partners. Cifas Protective Registration is a fraud protection scheme that helps us protect you in the event that you are at risk of fraud.

You’re considered to be at risk if:

• Your personal documents have recently been lost or stolen
• You’re the customer of an organisation that has recently lost or leaked data
• You’ve been advised by the police that you’re at risk of identity theft
• To help protect you, Cifas Protective Registration will place a warning flag against your name that will let Fidelity and other organisations know to pay close attention if your details are used to pay for something online.

Find out more about Cifas^† and watch our video to find out how easy it can be for fraudsters to access your personal information

Keeping your antivirus software up to date can help reduce the risk of malicious emails reaching your mailbox and the risk of malicious software being installed on your computer from potentially harmful websites.

Always keep your software up to date, and update it when prompted to do so.

Protect yourself and stay safe online against evolving threats by ensuring your operating system is always up to date. You can find out more about updating your operating system from Microsoft^† and Apple^†.

When you create a password, always make sure it is strong. Use a combination of letters, numbers and special characters.

When we ask you to create or change your password for accessing your accounts we’ll provide you with some specific guidance on your password; for your own security, we won’t accept a weak one.

Be careful not to use the same password for different sites. If a fraudster gets the key to one account they could have access to all your accounts.

Don’t use your PIN, family names and / or dates of birth. Information like this can be easily found on the internet and don’t forget to change your password regularly.

The most common wireless device you use within the home is the wireless router, which allows you to connect to the internet.

Typically, the security settings on these routers when you first receive them are turned off. This can leave you at risk of attackers breaking into your network, hijacking your internet connection and stealing personal information stored on your device.

Enabling the security features on this or any device you own can reduce the risk of your data or assets being compromised.

Keep your confidential documentation secure and shred any unwanted information. Remember to update us with any revised contact details and check your statements regularly for any suspicious transactions.  If you see anything suspicious please report it immediately.

www.getsafeonline.org^† is a joint partnership between the government and public and private organisations which provides information on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobiles device against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online.

Cifas is the UK’s fraud prevention agency, which works closely with UK law enforcement partners, and it runs a Protective Registration scheme that helps us protect you in the event that you are at risk of fraud.

If you think you have fallen victim to fraud or are at risk of identity theft, then take a look at the Cifas Protective Registration for individuals^†. If you notify it of a personal risk then it will place a flag against your name so if companies like Fidelity receive an application in your name we know to make extra checks to make sure it really is you.

If you believe your Fidelity account has been compromised or may be at risk please call us as soon as possible on 0800 358 7712 (Lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 6pm on Saturday).

You can also report suspected fraud to: www.actionfraud.police.uk^†, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.