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Online security hints and tips
In this article
Following a few simple rules can help protect you and your family online.
Online security tips
Online security tips
How do I block cookies?
How do I block cookies?
Cookies are tiny files saved to your computer when you visit websites. They're completely safe and can't be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your device.
We use them to help you get the best from the EE site and to improve your user experience, but it's up to you whether you allow them or not.
To block cookies:
Go to your browser settings and select block cookies.
How do I make my online passwords secure?
How do I make my online passwords secure?
Your passwords and PINs give you secure access to you online life.
Although using the same username and password for all your accounts may seem like a good idea as it's easier to remember just one password, it's much more secure to use a different password for all your online accounts. This means that if someone finds out one of your passwords then not all your accounts will be at risk.
On devices it's also important to lock your device with a password or PIN to keep your information secure. You should also activate your SIM PIN so that your SIM cannot be used in another device if it gets lost or stolen.
For more secure passwords and PINS:
Use longer passwords
The longer you make your password, the harder it is for someone to guess, or for a computer to crack. Modern computers have much more processing power available to them, so what was a relatively secure password a few years ago may be vulnerable today.
A single additional character can make a difference
A 6 character password using only lowercase alphabet characters has just 308 million combinations. For a 7 letter password, that increases to over 8 billion combinations, and for an 8 letter password the number of combinations is around 208 billion.
Mix it up
Use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and even symbols if your account lets you. The more varied your password is, the harder it is to guess.
If you expand an 8 character password to include uppercase letters and some special characters such as !, @, # or $, then there will be 128 trillion possible combinations.
Don’t use obvious passwords
It may be easy for you to remember, but using a sequence of numbers like 2222 or 1234, your birthday or your pet’s name as your password is just asking for trouble.
Every man and his dog knows your pet’s name. And you don’t want every man and his dog to be able to guess your password.
Don’t leave reminders lying around
If you do need help to remember your passwords, make sure you keep your reminders in a safe place. Don’t leave them written on sticky notes next to your desk. And if you keep them somewhere online, make sure they are well hidden.
If you have difficulty remembering your passwords, there are 3rd party services that will create and store secure passwords for you across your devices.
Change your passwords regularly
Change your passwords on a regular basis and if you do lose your device, change all your online passwords straight away.
What are EE router passwords?
What are EE router passwords?
Your EE Smart Hub router comes with two passwords pre-set on it:
EE have looked to implement best practice when it comes to choosing a password for you, to ensure that you have something random, memorable and difficult to hack. We would therefore recommend that you leave the existing passwords unchanged.
How do I keep my phone secure?
How do I keep my phone secure?
Always:
Never:
Useful websites for further advice
Useful websites for further advice
If you're worried about online scams or phone crime, these websites can help:
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