Practice Online Safety Habits….
Remember to Stop, Think, and then Connect!
Keep a Clean Machine
- Keep security software current: Many software programs will automatically connect and update. Turn on automatic updates if that is an available option.
- Protect all your devices: All your personal web-enabled devices need protection, not just computers.
- Plug & scan: “USBs” and other external devices should always be scanned when first using.
Protect Your Personal Information
- Secure your accounts: Many account providers now offer several ways for you verify who you are.
- Make passwords long and strong: Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to create a more secure password.
- Use unique passwords: Use a different password for every account to help thwart cybercriminals.
- Write it down and keep it safe: Everyone forgets. Keep a list of your passwords in a safe, secure place away from your computer.
Connect With Care
- When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts and online advertising are often how cybercriminals try to steal your personal information. Even if you know the source, if something looks suspicious, delete it.
- Be Leary of Wi-Fi hotspots: Limit the type of business you conduct on unknown Wi-Fi connections. Enable the security settings on your device to limit who can access your machine.
- Protect your $$: When banking or shopping on line, check to be sure the site is security enabled.
Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://” , they have more security precautions in place
Sites starting with “http://” are not secure.
Be Web Wise
- Stay current and be aware. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online: Check trusted websites for the latest information and be wary of communications that implores you to act immediately, offers something that sounds too good to be true, or asks for personal information.
Be a Good Online Citizen
- Safer for me more secure for all: What you do online has the potential to affect everyone. Practicing good online habits benefits the global digital community.
- Think before you post: Post only about others as you have them post about you.
Own Your Online Presence
- Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.: Information about you, such as your purchase history or location, has value. Be thoughtful about who gets that information and how it’s collected through apps and websites.
- Be aware of what’s being shared: Set the privacy and security settings on web services and devices to your comfort level for information sharing. You should determine how and with whom you share information.
- Share with care: Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it could be perceived now and in the future.