Ten Tips for Keeping Your Information Safe and Secure on the Internet

There seem to be a lot of people around these days who are interested in stealing information and causing mischief. That's why it has become more and more important that we protect ourselves and our information. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Don't Be Too Trusting

I can't stress this too much. It's okay to interact with strangers, but you also don't want to give them too much information. It's not a good idea to give out cell phone numbers or addresses. Most people will not ask you for this information. Never make arrangements to meet a stranger, or if you do, don't do so without telling someone what is going on. I limit who can talk to me on sites like Facebook and Skype. It's only common sense. There are people out there who will do you harm.

Don't Believe Everything You Read

There are all kinds of reasons that people post information on the Internet. They might not always have malicious intentions. Sometimes people do things for mischievous reasons because they like to play tricks on people. Sometimes they might do it to embarrass a friend or get back at someone in revenge. Don't be the one to feed the rumor mill with false information. We've all gotten emails with false information in them. Just be sure to check out the information for yourself before you pass it on.

Use A Good Antivirus and Backup Program

Make sure that you have good antivirus software and that you keep it updated. New viruses are always being discovered and your antivirus software won't do you any good if you don't keep it up to date. I've dealt with viruses, and many times the only solution is to reformat the hard drive. At that point you will lose all of your data unless you have a good backup. If you currently don't have a good backup, make that a top priority. There are many good programs that will do this for you automatically.

Be Careful How Much Personal Info You Give

Don't put too much information in your social networking profiles. Many times these sites will ask for birthdate. They do this in order to determine what type of information you can access based on age. When you display your age on Facebook, for instance, just don't allow the year you were born to be displayed. There is an option in Facebook to do this. Do not include your address. Many people will announce when they are travelling. There is a possibility that knowledge of an address, and the fact that you are out of town could lead to your home being robbed.

Enable Privacy Settings

Most social networking sites have privacy settings. If you don't want the general public to see everything that you post on the site, then be sure to enable these settings. I like to approve anyone who has access to my photos and information that I post.

Know the Security Features of Your Operating System and Web Browser

Your first line of defense is the security you set up on your computer. If you have an always on cable connection, you need to know how your operating system can help to protect your system. Learn about firewalls, email protection, and the protection your browser and antivirus programs can provide. Make sure that you allow your operating system and Internet browser to run automatic security updates. By all means, if you are using a wireless router, enable the security settings on your router. Otherwise people can piggy back off your Internet connection.

Keep Your Passwords Secure

Do not give out your passwords to anyone. Make sure that you have passwords that would be difficult for someone to figure out. It's not a good idea to use the names of your spouse or children. Stay away from common words that anyone can find out about you.

Don't Use The Same Password For Everything

You wouldn't want to use the same password for your online banking as you would for your email. If someone can figure out that one password, they would then have access to everything. Not a good idea.

Know What To Do If You Suspect a Virus Or Malware

If your computer begins to act unusual, know what to do. Viruses can come through email and the Internet. Don't access your online banking or other sensitive sites until you have cleaned your computer and are sure that the virus or malware is gone. If you need to, consult or take your computer to a professional.

Report Malicious Actions

If you come across any malware or virus, be sure to report it. Many times you will receive a phishing email that may try to impersonate a bank or government agency. You can report this type of information directly to the bank or company they are misrepresenting or go to the website of Homeland Security. There are several government agencieswhere you can report phishing and suspicious emails containing viruses.

Also notify friends and family if you run across a scam or malicious virus. The more people you tell the better. Keeping your computer secure is important for many reasons. Be sure you know the pitfalls so that you can avoid any problems. Take proper security measures and you will be safe online. If we all practice proper security measures, the Internet is safer for all of us.

Sources:

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-003.html

http://www.onguardonline.gov/default.aspx

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=506&z=43