1. Cyber Security – beware Black Friday Scammers

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably read about the cyber-attack on the Manchester United PLC last week. IT systems across their empire went offline, with workers unable to access some files. And the computer virus even stopped some operations and medical procedures from taking place. This is because it was a ransomware virus, meaning it can encrypt files and demand you pay to get them back.

You might assume that you’d have to be naive to fall for a ransomware scam like this – but that’s actually not the case. Ransomware scams are evolving every day, meaning they can now even catch IT experts out. And you only need to drop your guard for a few seconds for a cyber-attack to take over your computer.

Don’t panic though – we’ll take you through how to protect yourself online.

Avoiding a cyber-attack

Here are our top tips on avoiding a cyber-attack like the one on the NHS.

1. Look at the email address. If you’ve got an email and you don’t know anything about it, see who sent it. Don’t just look at the name of the sender – check to see the sender’s actual email address. An email might look like it’s come from a trustworthy source but when you see the email address, it could be a scammer.

2. Don’t click on any links. Got an email you don’t recognise? Make sure you don’t click on any links or open any attachments. This can download a ransomware virus to your computer. If you’re not sure, just delete it.

3. Don’t give out your password. A legitimate company would never email you to ask you for your password. So if you get an email that says this, alarm bells should start to ring.

4. Update your software. One of the best ways to avoid a ransomware cyber-attack is to make sure you’ve got the most up-to-date version of your software. Head to the Microsoft website and install any patches or fixes to stay protected.

5. Install anti-virus software. Make sure you’ve got a robust anti-virus program installed on your computer. You don’t have to pay for this – Windows Defender comes with Windows 8 and Windows 10 PCs and you can install Microsoft Security Essentials if you’re on Windows 7.

6. Don’t pay the scammers. If ransomware has infected your computer, don’t lose your head. It’s easy for the warning messages to scare you and this might tempt you to pay up. Don’t do this though – there’s no guarantee if you pay that the scammers will release your files. Instead, report them to the police and Action Fraud. This is a dedicated cyber crime reporting service.

If you’re currently worried about your finances, have unsecured debts from personal borrowing and would like to speak confidentially to an advisor who can talk to you about the benefits and considerations of a range of debt solutions and personal insolvency solutions, then please get in touch by calling 0114 331 0095

The advice comes without judgement, without obligation and is on your terms and time.

Visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk to request a call back at a time to suit you. By requesting a call, you are under no obligation to use our services. My Payment Plan provide solutions to customers living in the United Kingdom.

Should you choose to undertake a plan or arrangement, there may be consequences to consider, including restrictions on future expenditure, lending and on your ability to obtain further or future credit. Fees, terms and conditions apply. For further information and advice please visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk.

The services that we provide may be available at no cost from other government and charity based providers. Further information can be obtained from the Money Advice Service.

Here’s how you can tell if you have money worries.

Are you struggling to pay your debts? You might think that you’re managing to stay on top of your repayments but you sometimes have to cut back on a few other payments and tighten your belt towards the end of the month.

Are your money worries starting to have an impact on other areas of your life? If so, it might be time to look at how you can tackle your debt problems. Here are five tell-tale signs to recognise that you may need help.

1.You’re losing sleep at night: this is a typical sign for people who are finding their debt is starting to get on top of them. If it’s all you think about and it keeps you up at night worrying, it could be a good idea to think about how you can change this.

2.You don’t want to open your bank statements? ignoring your bank statements when they come through? This might be because you don’t want to face up to your problems. We know burying your hand in the sand can be tempting but it won’t make your troubles go away.

3.You’re cutting back on food or other priority areas? affording food and your rent or mortgage should always be a priority as well as your utility bills. We have some tips on shopping on a budget if you just need to save a few quid. But if it’s gone beyond that, get in touch with your creditors or seek advice from an FCA authorised debt advisor.

4.You’re struggling to even meet your minimum payments: paying off just the minimum on high interest credit cards can mean that you end up paying a lot back over a long period of time. But if the minimum payment seems out of your reach, your debts might not be manageable for you.

5.You’re looking for more credit to cover your existing repayments: consolidating your debts isn’t necessarily the wrong way to deal with them. And this is especially true if you’re looking to take out a loan with a lower interest rate than your existing debts. But if you can’t get these and you turn to a more expensive form of borrowing, it could end up pushing you further into debt.

It doesn’t need to be this way.

Realising that you have debt troubles can be scary but you don’t need to deal with it alone. You can speak to your creditors to let them know that you’re struggling and arrange a new payment plan with them.

If you feel uncomfortable speaking to your creditors, are worried about your finances and have unsecured debts from personal borrowing, you may find it useful to speak to us. We are authorised by the FCA to provide free debt advice and talk to you about the benefits and considerations of a range of debt solutions and personal insolvency solutions. Please get in touch by calling 0114 331 0095

The advice comes without judgement, without obligation and is on your terms and time.

Visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk to request a call back at a time to suit you. By requesting a call, you are under no obligation to use our services. My Payment Plan provide solutions to customers living in the United Kingdom.

Should you choose to undertake a plan or arrangement, there may be consequences to consider, including restrictions on future expenditure, lending and on your ability to obtain further or future credit. Whilst our debt advice is free, fees, terms and conditions apply for any services provided. For further information and advice please visit www.mypaymentplan.co.uk.

The services that we provide may be available at no cost from other government and charity based providers. Further information can be obtained from the Money Advice Service