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 “Protecting valuable information online is just as important as
securing a home, car or personal possessions,” says Rebecca Smith,
vice president, marketing for Master Lock. “It is essential that
people educate themselves and take the proper precautions to
safeguard their information online, ensuring important account data
and passwords are protected within the digital space.”
1. Firewalls are your friend: Be sure to activate your computer's
firewalls as they are great tools to provide you with a line of
defense against hackers and Internet crime. They watch all the
communication occurring between your computer, a network (say at the
office) and the Internet and can prevent strangers from accessing
your information.
2. Surf and shop safely: While online shopping is a great,
convenient tool, consumers should be careful when surfing or
shopping on a site they've never visited before. Good indicators
that a site is secure include checkout pages with lock symbols or
sites with the prefix "https," indicating that a page is encrypted
or scrambled.
3. Download security software: There is a wide variety of
security software available that automatically updates itself and
can protect your personal computers from viruses, spyware and other
online threats that are constantly in play. Sign on and scan your
computer for viruses and other malware once a week to ensure your
information stays safe.
4. Create strong passwords: Short, easy-to-remember passwords,
are typically not complex enough to prevent being hacked. When
creating passwords for online bank accounts and other sites, use
passwords with at least 10 characters that are a combination of
letters, numbers and most importantly, symbols. It's also a good
idea to change your password on a monthly basis to keep it secure.
5. Be cautious -- always: Internet fraud and online crime are a
constant threat to all Americans who interact online or store
anything digitally. Be cautious and avoid posting any personal
information online, do not open email messages from strange
addresses and never give your browser permission to remember your
passwords.
6. Shut it down: We all know that with many advances in
technology, one can be connected at all times. However, being online
24/7 comes with risks. Attackers and/or viruses are more likely to
target your computer if you are always connected. Therefore, it's
good to shut down once in a while and take yourself offline.
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 7. Back it up: Whether it happens by accident, a natural disaster
or because of an equipment malfunction, computers and networks crash
and can leave your information exposed or just lost altogether.
Consider backing up all of your most important information at least
twice a month and rest easy knowing it is stored safely in more than
one place.
8. Use parental controls: Children use the Internet as
frequently, if not more, than adults. Many Internet browsers offer
the option to set parental controls. Check out your options to
restrict the websites viewed on your computer and protect the
settings you select with a password your kids won't be able to
figure out. This way, you're keeping your information, and more
importantly, your children safe from various online dangers.
9. Lock up your valuable info: Every time you step away from your
computer, you should know all of your most important information is
secure. Consider utilizing a secure, online storage application or
website, such as the free Master Lock Vault, to house all of your
passwords, account numbers and essential information and documents
under one easily accessible, yet completely secure location. Storing
this information online is safer than keeping hard copies or a
non-protected file on your computer. Services like the Vault can act
as an encrypted digital safe deposit box and give users peace of
mind that their vital information is locked up tight.
10. Two is better than one: User authentication, also known as
two-tier or device authentication, should always be enabled if
offered by sites that collect your secure or private data at
registration. With this enabled, you may receive an email or text
message with a verification code to complete your account set-up.
While this may seem inconvenient at the time of sign-up, the extra
protection is well worth this extra step.
For more advice on online safety and security, visit
www.masterlock.com or
www.masterlockvault.com.
[Article copied from ARAcontent] |
