Tips For Staying Safe While Online*
The online world can be a confusing—even intimidating—place, with new threats emerging on a regular basis. How can you keep yourself safe and still enjoy the benefits that the Internet brings? Armed with just a little knowledge, you can easily and effectively improve the security of your computer and your personal information. Here are some simple tips that will give you the freedom and confidence to take full advantage of the Internet:
- Use anti-virus software, and keep it updated.
- Use a personal firewall, and keep it updated.
- Create strong passwords and change them regularly.
- Use passwords that have at least eight characters.
- Use both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as both numbers and symbols. This will create a much stronger password. For example, Tim_Chic@go171 is a better alternative than TIMCHICAGO. However, it is important to create a password that you can still remember without having to write it down.
- Another clever trick you can use to create a strong, yet still memorable password is to think of a phrase or a poem and convert the first letters of each word in the phrase into your password. For example, "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck" would become HmWc@wC.
- Using common data such as your name, family member’s names, hometown, your birth date or any word that can be found in the dictionary make your password less secure (hackers often have programs that will try every word in the dictionary in order to crack your password).
- Using the same ID/password combination for several different accounts means that if one of you combinations is stolen, all of your accounts are at risk. For instance, if someone steals your password for your online photo site, they will be then able to access your online bank. Try to use different combinations for your various online accounts.
- You should also change your passwords frequently (at least every 90 days) and make sure you never share them with anyone.
- Be aware of deceptive emails, pop-ups, and other online scams
- Check the security lock.
- Guard your privacy and limit the amount of personal information you share online.
- Fraud is always on the move.
- Check your online statements frequently.
Getting infected with a computer virus or Trojan can be frustrating. These programs are known to destroy your computer, slow its performance, and barrage you with annoying pop-up ads. However, the types of viruses and Trojans that infect computers today are more malicious. They are designed to steal your credit card information and passwords, take over your email and use it for spamming, or even record what you type on your computer. Also, many of the new viruses and Trojans aim to be transparent so most people don’t even know they have been infected.
Using anti-virus software and keeping it up-to-date is the best protection against these threats. Nowadays, most anti-virus software products will automatically update themselves as new threats are uncovered so you don’t have to do a thing. Many Internet service providers now even offer these products free to their customers.
Hackers constantly create new ways to penetrate your computer. Installing a personal firewall is essential to safeguard your computer and valuable personal information. A firewall is a secure barrier that sits between your computer and the Internet that prevents hackers from accessing your information.
A firewall needs to be installed properly or it will not effectively protect you from online threats. In addition, like anti-virus software, your firewall should be kept up-to-date. This is easy to do with software that automatically updates the latest versions onto your computer.
Do you think your password is impossible to guess? The reality is that many people use simple passwords that are easy to remember but make it easy for hackers to gain access to your financial and personal accounts. Making your password more complex will keep you safer online (though much more can still be done).
You should also have more than one password that you use. Just as you wouldn’t use the same key for your house, your car, your mailbox and your office, you shouldn’t use the same password for all of your online accounts. This exposes you to more risk and increases the likelihood of having your information stolen.
Click the "Learn More" link for more simple tips to keep you password protection strong.
Online criminals will attempt to acquire your personal information by luring you to a website that looks legitimate, but is actually a fake site. If you receive any emails from an unfamiliar source, or any suspicious pop-ups, do not click on the links or open the attachment.
New online attacks are so advanced that they are capable of redirecting you to a fake website, even if you didn’t click on anything. If a web page asks for you to provide sensitive information that it has never asked you to provide before, do not type anything and close the page immediately. Financial institutions and online service providers do not ask you to enter information such as your credit card number, Social Security number, or PIN number on the login page or any subsequent pages.
Sometimes, just the presence of a security lock alone is not proof enough that a website is genuine. If in doubt, you can verify a website is genuine by double clicking on the lock to display the website’s security certificate, and then check if the name on the certificate and the website that appears in the address bar match. If they do not match, then the website might be phony.
The growth of social networking sites over the last two years has made it easier for online criminals to obtain information on you. This is a way for them to gather information to answer the challenge questions most online service providers require in order to enable access to your account or retrieve and change your password. Limit the amount of personal information you publicly share online.
As consumers become more educated about fraud and identity theft, online criminals are moving to other places to launch their scams. Phone scams are gaining popularity again. There are two common types of phone scams. The first type of scam involves an email detailing a problem with your account and requests you to call a specific phone number to provide more details. The second type of scam involves a phone call from an automated call center asking you for sensitive information. You should never provide personal information to an unsolicited caller.
Mobile phones are another new target. For example, one scam involves sending a text messages to your mobile phone claiming to be your bank. If you receive such a text message and are unsure if it is a legitimate communication, call your bank’s customer service center to verify that the message is genuine
Despite adopting all the appropriate security measures, online users still manage to fall victim to scams and have their identity stolen. In order to help ensure that you and your information stay safe, check your online account statements frequently. If you have fallen victim to online fraud, the sooner you know about it, the sooner you can act to block your accounts, and take corrective action. If you detect suspicious activity in your account, you should immediately contact your account provider for help.
*Note: These security tips have been compiled from various public and private resources. We have tried to highlight the best tips from various organizations; however we encourage you to continue to educate yourself about online security.
