The National Cyber Security Alliance http://www.staysafeonline.org/ offers practical steps you can take to stay safe online and avoid becoming a victim of fraud, identity theft, or cybercrime.

Protect Yourself

Your home computer serves many purposes: email, shopping, social networking and more. As you surf the Internet, you should be aware of the various ways to protect yourself.

Of primary concern is protecting your personally indentifying information. Use your judgment about what you post about yourself on Internet sites. When any site requests information about you, ask these questions:

  • Who is asking?
  • What information are they asking for?
  • Why do they need it?

Think about the amount and detail of information being requested. Does it correspond to what you think is needed to make a purchase, register for a new service, or conduct other business? Be sure you know why the information is being requested and how it will be used.

Find out what’s out there about you. Using a computer you are sure is safe and secure, go to your favorite search engine and put in your own name. Do the same for your children. You might be surprised how much information you will find.

Learn more:
Email
Online Shopping
Social Networking
Mobile Devices
Downloading and File-sharing

Protect Your Devices

In your home, you likely have a number of devices that connect to the Internet and store data and important information. For example, the main computer in your house may be the place where information such as tax returns, banking records, documents with personal information, and other data is stored. You may also keep sentimental photos, music, and videos stored on your cell phones, laptops or even gaming devices. To be safe and secure, you need to know where this information is and protect it along with the devices where it’s stored.

The good news is that by following a few easy steps, you can keep a clean machine and protect your information.

Learn more:
Online Threats
Security Suite