Stop – Think – Connect

These days, online safety is more important than ever. To help keep you keep your information safe and protect you from having your computer or information compromised, check out the tips below.

Tips to help you practice good online safety habits:

Keep a Clean Machine

  • Be sure to have current security software. (Note: You can set your software to automatically update.)
  • Protect all devices that connect to the Internet.
    • Computers
    • Smartphones
    • Gaming systems
  • Scan USBs and other external devices with security software.

Protect Your Personal Information

  • Lock down your login - Protect your online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available.
  • Create strong passwords - A strong password is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long.
  • Keep passwords safe – store in a secure place (Note: You can use a password manager service to keep track.)

Connect with Care

  • When in doubt, throw it out.
    • Cybercriminals often use links in emails, social media and online advertising to steal personal information.
    • Delete anything that looks suspicious, even if you know the source.
  • Be careful about Wi-Fi hotspots.
    • Limit the type of business you conduct.
    • Adjust security settings to control access to your device.
  • Watch your money!
    • When banking and shopping be sure the site is security enabled.
    • Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://,” which means the site takes extra measures to secure your information; “http://” is not secure. 

Be Web Wise

Stay current

Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online. Check trusted websites for the latest information. Share with friends, family, and colleagues and encourage them to be web wise.

Think before you act

Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true or ask for personal information.

Back it up

Protect your valuable work, music, photos and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.

Be a Good Online Citizen

Safer for me, more secure for all

What you do online has the potential to affect everyone – at home, at work and around the world. Practicing good online habits fosters a safe digital community.

Follow the Golden Rule

Post about others as you would have them post about you.

Help the authorities fight cybercrime

Report stolen finances or identities and other cybercrime to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and to your local law enforcement or state attorney general as appropriate.

Important Reminders

Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.

Information about you, such as your purchase history or location, has value, just like money. 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. It’s OK to limit 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.

Sources for this article:

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