Staying safe online is one of the biggest concerns in today’s world. The internet is essential and it’s how most people take care of basic tasks such as paying bills, banking, shopping and scheduling necessary appointments. All these tasks put our personal and financial information at risk from cybercriminals and hackers.

Since it’s now so common to input this information online, most of us have also become fairly blasé about it. We aren’t as careful as we know we should be because being careful requires more time and effort. This doesn’t mean that we aren’t concerned about these issues and our general internet security though.

Stories about cybercrime are often in the news, with targets ranging from Christie’s auction house, Boeing and the British Library to individuals across the globe. Even positive news like the reveal of the identity of the leader of the LockBit ransomware group isn’t very reassuring. The internet seems perfectly designed to give cybercriminals a place to hide and to launch their attacks.

Of particular concern are online gambling sites. Online casinos and online sportsbooks are attractive targets for cybercriminals because they are filled with personal data and financial information. Security remains a top concern among bettors, especially as sports betting becomes more widespread.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the steps that bettors can take to protect their own accounts at sportsbooks and more generally across the internet. We’ll also review some of the UK’s secure betting apps and the features that they use to protect their bettors.

Protecting yourself online

We rely on the companies that we do business with to protect our information online. We should also do what we can to protect ourselves. One of the most important things we can do is to stay informed about the types of cyberattacks that are being used. If you know what a phishing scam looks like, you’re in a better position to avoid one.

The most basic step to keeping your data safe online is to have a strong password and to change it regularly. It’s annoying to continuously update your passwords, and complicated passwords that are unique to each account can be difficult to remember. Thankfully, there are password tools that create and store passwords so that you can be protected without having to memorise dozens of complicated passwords.

Phishing attacks are one of the most common types of cybercrime because they only require a bit of human error, instead of trying to break through complicated security programs. The simplest way to avoid phishing scams is to never click on email links from addresses you don’t recognise.

Using a VPN can improve your online security because it hides your IP address. VPNs relay the signals from your computer and the sites that you’re visiting through multiple routers so that your location can be masked. This makes your connection much more secure.

Only using a trusted payment method and not making purchases on suspicious sites is also essential. It can also be smart to make the first purchase on a new site with a prepaid card, such as a Paysafecard or prepaid Visa card. Since these cards aren’t connected to any of your bank accounts, if something goes wrong then your financial information isn’t exposed.

When you’re given the option to do so, it doesn’t hurt to opt-in to AI cybersecurity measures. Most AI cybersecurity tools being offered are still relatively new and need further testing and development to offer full protection. While they still need some work, there’s no harm in using them as an added layer of security to increase your peace of mind.

Below are some of the betting apps that have a demonstrated track record of enhanced bettor security:

BetUK

BetUK has a great reputation among UK bettors because they offer competitive odds on a great selection of markets and are also committed to bettor security. They use impressive security features to keep customer information safe. This is particularly important because they also have a very thorough Know Your Customer (KYC) protocol. KYC protocols protect against fraud, but they also require bettors to submit proof of address and additional personal information. Alongside their basic licenses, BetUK also holds a remote bookmaker’s license through the Revenue Commissioners for Ireland.

They also offer a selection of responsible betting resources on BetUK. Sometimes the risk in sports betting comes from losing sight of the fact that sports betting should be a fun hobby. These resources can help bettors better manage their betting to prevent it from becoming a problem.

bet365

bet365 is one of the UK’s favourite sportsbooks. They offer odds on more spots than most of their competitors and have additional features like livestreaming sports and live betting on many of the top matches and events. Their app is also designed to make live betting options easy to find, which is a big plus when you’re in a hurry.

In terms of security, bet365 uses 128-bit SSL encryption. This is one of the most secure forms of encryption software and is nearly impossible to break. They also only accept deposits and withdrawals from trusted and secure payment methods. This helps keep players safe and ensures that transactions are processed securely and efficiently.

BetVictor

BetVictor has a dedicated fanbase across the UK. They have earned those loyal fans by offering great odds and a wide selection of markets. BetVictor is particularly well known for their football betting options. They also have a highly responsive customer support team, so if anything goes wrong it can be fixed quickly.

BetVictor also use SSL encryption to protect their customer’s data. They have a strong KYC protocol, and their anti-fraud team is one of the best in the business. Players are also given the option of enabling two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication adds an extra level of security and makes it much harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to an account.