PYRALINK INNOVATION LTD · UK HEADQUARTERS
UK Cybersecurity & Secure AI Products Direct: +44 191 300 2979
Pyralink Innovation Ltd
Request a Demo ↗
Pyralink Innovation Ltd
Request a Demo ↗

Home / Community

Community

Giving back to Gateshead

Pyralink is a Gateshead company that designs cyber security products. We use our time and our know-how to help local people, charities and small businesses stay safe online, for free.

Cyber crime does not only affect big companies. Scam texts, fake invoices and stolen passwords cause real worry for older people, young people, clubs, charities and small firms right here in Gateshead. We cannot fix everything, but we can share what we know, in plain English and without the jargon. Here is what we have promised to do over the next 12 months, starting in November 2026.

Take the 3-minute self-checkAsk for a free help sessionBook a free community talk

What we have promised for the next 12 months

These are our promises, not boasts. We will update this page each month, and we will only say something has happened once it really has.

Free community cyber help sessions

Free, plain-English help with the basics for Gateshead charities and small businesses, with a short written summary and a follow-up chat afterwards.

Free community talks

Free scam and online safety talks for older people and young people.

Staff volunteering

Our team's time given to local causes, for example as a digital adviser or trustee.

Work experience

Work experience placements for young people from Gateshead, in cyber and IT.

Briefings for local businesses

Free briefings on cyber security basics for local business groups.

Devices for people who need them

Our retired laptops, tablets or phones, wiped safely and passed on through a local or national reuse scheme.

Our promise period: November 2026 to October 2027. All of this is given freely, with our time and skills. We do not ask for donations, and we will not ask for anything in return. Last updated: 31 October 2026.

How safe are you online? A 3-minute self-check

Answer 18 quick yes or no questions. Score 1 point for each yes. There are no trick questions and nobody is judging. Your answers stay on your own device: we do not collect, store or see them.

See all 18 questions as a list (no scripts needed)

Score 1 point for each yes, then check your total against the table below.

  1. Is your email account protected with 2-step verification (a code or prompt as well as your password)? Learn more on NCSC
  2. Do you use a strong password for your email that you use nowhere else? Learn more on NCSC
  3. Are your other passwords long, made from three random words or more, and different for each account? Learn more on NCSC
  4. Do you use a password manager, or the one built into your phone or browser, rather than remembering or writing down passwords? Learn more on NCSC
  5. Is 2-step verification switched on for other important accounts, such as banking, social media and cloud storage? Learn more on NCSC
  6. Are your phones, laptops and apps set to update automatically? Learn more on NCSC
  7. Do you back up your important files to somewhere separate from your main device? Learn more on NCSC
  8. Have you ever checked that you can actually get your files back from that backup? Learn more on NCSC
  9. Is the built-in security on your computers and phones switched on (for example Windows Security or Apple's protections)? Learn more on NCSC
  10. Do all your phones, tablets and laptops lock with a PIN, password or fingerprint? Learn more on NCSC
  11. If a message you did not expect asks you to click, pay or log in, do you stop and check with the sender another way first? Learn more on NCSC
  12. Do you know how to report a suspicious email (forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk)? Learn more on GOV.UK
  13. Do you know how to report a suspicious text (forward it to 7726, which is free)? Learn more on NCSC
  14. If someone asks you to change bank details or make an urgent payment, do you confirm it by phoning a number you already trust? Learn more on NCSC
  15. Does everyone who uses a shared system have their own login, rather than a shared password? Learn more on NCSC
  16. When someone leaves or stops volunteering, do you remove their access to your accounts straight away? Learn more on NCSC
  17. Do you know what personal information you hold about people (names, emails, health details), why, and who can see it? Learn more on ICO
  18. If something went wrong tomorrow, would you know who to call and what to do first? Learn more on NCSC

What your score means

0 to 6 points

A good place to start

Lots of quick wins are waiting, and most take minutes and cost nothing. Begin with questions 1, 2 and 7: protect your email, give it its own strong password, and back up your files. Our free community cyber help sessions are a friendly way to take the next step.

7 to 12 points

Solid foundations

You already have the basics in place. Look at the questions you answered no to and pick the two that feel easiest. Switching on 2-step verification and automatic updates usually makes the biggest difference.

13 to 16 points

Strong habits

You are doing a lot right. The remaining gaps are often about people and processes, such as who has access to what and what you would do on a bad day. Writing a one-page plan is worth an hour of your time.

17 to 18 points

Well prepared

Excellent. Keep it up by revisiting the questions every six months, and consider sharing what works with a neighbouring group. The government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme is a good next step if you want to go further.

Private by design. The self-check runs in your browser. It sends nothing anywhere, sets no cookies and stores nothing on your device, so your answers disappear when you close or reload this page.

A free scam guide you can print and share

A short, one-page guide written in plain English. Print it, put it on a noticeboard, or send it to a friend or relative. Use it freely, and please keep the words as they are.

Scam reporting has changed. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, fraud and cyber crime are now reported to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040), which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Spotted a scam text? A quick guide to fake parcel and bank messages

Scam texts are one of the most common ways criminals try to reach us. They often say a parcel could not be delivered, a payment has failed, or your bank has noticed something odd. They are written to make you hurry.

The signs

  1. The message arrives out of the blue, from a number or name you do not recognise.
  2. It asks you to click a link or to call a number in the message.
  3. It puts you under pressure, with words like act now, final notice or your account will be closed.
  4. It asks for card details, a password or a code. A real bank will never ask for your full PIN or password.

What to do

  1. Stop. Do not click the link, do not reply, and do not ring the number in the message.
  2. Check another way. If it might be real, contact the organisation using the number on your card, a recent bill, or their official website or app. Never use the details in the text.
  3. Report it. Forward the text to 7726, which is free. Your phone provider can look into it and may block the sender. On most phones, press and hold the message and choose Forward, send it to 7726, then reply with the sender's number when you are asked.
  4. Delete the message.

If you have already clicked or replied

Please do not feel embarrassed. This happens to careful people every day. If you typed in card or bank details, call your bank straight away on the number on your card. If you typed in a password, change it on the real website and anywhere else you used it, and switch on 2-step verification. Keep an eye on your statements. If you have lost money, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). In Scotland, call 101.

Remember: a real organisation will never mind you checking. Taking one minute to stop and think is always fine.

Written by Pyralink, Gateshead. Free to share. Last checked 31 October 2026.

Free community cyber help sessions

Are you a Gateshead charity, or a Gateshead business with fewer than 10 staff? We will take a friendly look at your online basics, tell you what is working, and suggest simple next steps. There is no charge and no catch.

What you get

A one-hour conversation about how you use technology, a review of key settings such as email, passwords, backups and updates, a short written summary in plain English with the three or four most useful actions, and a one-hour follow-up chat to go through it.

Free of charge

What it is not

It is not a full security audit or a penetration test, and we will not try to break into anything. We will never access your systems without your written permission.

Clear limits

Who it is for

Gateshead charities, and Gateshead businesses with fewer than 10 staff. If we get more requests than we can take on, we will explain how we choose.

Gateshead, fewer than 10 staff

Your information

We only look at what you agree, we keep a short summary and notes, and we delete anything else after the session. See our privacy note at the foot of this page.

Written permission first

This is free community help. We do not charge, invoice or accept payment for it, and it is separate from our products.

How it works

  1. Tell us a little about your organisation using the contact details below.
  2. We have a short, friendly chat to understand what you use and what worries you.
  3. You sign a simple permission form that says what we can look at.
  4. We carry out the review together with you, looking only at what you have agreed in writing. We will not try to sell you anything.
  5. You receive your short summary, and we go through it together in a one-hour call.
Ask for a free community cyber help session

This opens an email to mike.ade@pyralink.co.uk. Please include your organisation's name, whether you are a charity or a business, roughly how many staff you have, and what you would most like help with. Please do not send passwords or personal details of the people you support.

Book a free community talk on scams and online safety

We give friendly, practical talks for groups of older people and young people, with no jargon and plenty of time for questions. They are free, and we come to you on weekdays, anywhere in Tyne and Wear.

Talks for older people

How to spot scam calls, texts and emails, how to shop and bank safely online, and what to do if something feels wrong. Ideal for older people's groups, libraries, lunch clubs and churches.

45 to 60 minutes

Talks for young people

Staying safe on social media and games, passwords and privacy, scams aimed at young people, and how cyber security can be a career. Ideal for schools, colleges and youth groups.

45 to 60 minutes

Briefings for local businesses

A relaxed session on the cyber security basics every small firm needs, aimed at business groups and networks.

About an hour

What we ask of you: a room and a screen if you have one, a rough idea of numbers, and a named person at your end. We bring the slides and printed take-away guides if you would like them. We are happy to adapt the talk to your group.

This is free community help. We do not charge, invoice or accept payment for it, and it is separate from our products. Talks are given on weekdays, anywhere in Tyne and Wear.

Ask for a free community talk

Please tell us: your group's name and where you meet, who the audience is, how many people you expect, and a few dates that would suit.

Book a free community talk

This opens an email to mike.ade@pyralink.co.uk. You can also phone us on +44 191 300 2979. We aim to reply within 5 working days.

Questions people ask

Is it really free?

Yes. There is no charge for the help sessions, the talks or the briefings, and no hidden fee. We give our time and our skills.

Why do you do this?

We are a Gateshead company, and we know that cyber crime hits local charities, clubs and small firms hard. We would like to help people feel more confident online.

Will you try to sell me something afterwards?

No. If you ask us about our products we will happily talk, but the help sessions and the talks stand on their own. We will always point you to free official guidance first.

What will you look at, and what will you keep?

We only look at what you agree in writing. We keep a short summary and our notes, and delete anything else once the session is finished. We keep your enquiry emails, and the short summary and notes, for 12 months after our last contact.

Do I need to be technical?

Not at all. We explain everything in plain English, and nothing needs to be installed unless you want it.

Are you part of the police or the government?

No. Pyralink is an independent company. We link to guidance from organisations such as the NCSC, Report Fraud and the ICO because it is trustworthy, but they have not endorsed us.

What if you find something serious?

We will tell you straight away, explain it simply, and help you decide what to do next. We will also point you to the right official place to report it.

Who can ask for a free community cyber help session or a talk?

Help sessions are for Gateshead charities and businesses with fewer than 10 staff. Talks are for groups of older people, young people and local businesses, on weekdays, anywhere in Tyne and Wear.

About this page and your privacy

Pyralink Innovation Ltd. Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Registered in England and Wales, company number 14512137. ICO registration number ZB516923.

We give our time and skills freely and do not accept payment for the activities on this page. This page is updated monthly. Last updated: 31 October 2026.

Privacy policy · Cookies · Contact · mike.ade@pyralink.co.uk · +44 191 300 2979

Privacy note for this page

The self-check. It runs in your browser and we do not receive your answers. It sends nothing, sets no cookies and stores nothing on your device.

This page has no forms. To ask for a free community cyber help session or a talk, the buttons open an email to mike.ade@pyralink.co.uk, or you can phone us. Your email is sent through your own email app, so it reaches us only when you press send.

  • Who we are: Pyralink Innovation Ltd, Gateshead, is the controller of the personal information you give us.
  • What we collect: your name, email address, organisation, and anything you tell us in your message.
  • Why: to reply to you, arrange a help session or talk, and carry it out.
  • Lawful basis: legitimate interests, because we need to deal with your request.
  • Who sees it: only our team. We do not sell or share it, other than with a venue or school you ask us to coordinate with. It is held in our company email system.
  • How long: for 12 months after our last contact (this covers your enquiry emails and any short summary and notes from a help session), unless the law requires otherwise.
  • Your rights: you can ask to see, correct or delete your information, or object to how we use it, at any time by emailing mike.ade@pyralink.co.uk.
  • Complaints: you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).

The website as a whole is described in our privacy policy and cookie notice.