Passwords, Personal Info, and ‘Phishing’: Protect Yourself From Cybercrime
The
internet is a huge part of our daily lives. We shop there. We socialize
there. We get our music, TV, and movies from there. But unlike every
other form of media that dominated our lives previously, the internet
is interactive. We are connected to it. That can be a great thing. But
the problem is — so is everyone else. Consequently, internet crime has
become much more common and widespread. It is imperative that you
protect yourself. First and foremost, you have to educate yourself and
become aware of the risks. Learn about illegal trends, and you can
reduce your chance of becoming a target.
Be Smart With Your Passwords:
Don’t enter a password or your personal information into a link that
was emailed to you. Go to any business/organization website directly
(using the URL) and check to see if the site is secured (Look for HTTPS
instead of HTTP) and look for the ‘padlock’ icon in the lower left side
of the screen. Emails can be falsified easily. And of course, never
give out a password online.
Also, any organization that is valid will display a policy notifying you that they won’t ask for a password.
Change your passwords as often as possible and make sure they’re strong
— meaning a password that contains both letters and numbers. Make it
easy for you to remember, but difficult for anyone else to guess or
crack.
Be Careful With Your Email:
Use caution when downloading attachments. Viruses and other damaging
files can be sent via email attachments, so always verify that the
person who emailed you is sending an actual file. Malware can be sent
from another person’s infected address book and that person may not be
aware that they’re sending you an infected file. If you don’t know the
person, don’t download the file or click on any links in the email.
Protect Yourself With Software:
Invest in anti-virus and firewall software. There are tons of programs
out there that you can download for free, or if you prefer, you can
purchase one that best suits your needs. TrendMicro®, C-Net, and
Spyware Blockers are just a few that are available.
First and foremost, you have to educate yourself — become aware of the risks. Awareness is key. –todd williams
