PC, Online and Social Media Security

Tips to Keep Your Computer Safe and Secure

• Always use a secure Internet connection and document encryption.
• Install anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer and keep it updated along with applications, browsers and operating systems. Install security patches and software updates as soon as they are released by verified sources. When purchasing anti-virus software, look for ones that include document encryption.
• Don’t keep computers online when not in use. Either shut them off or physically disconnect them from your Internet connection.
• Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can compromise your computer’s security.
• Beware of emails that address you as: “Dear cardholder, Dear customer, etc.” Emails from banks or companies with whom you do business will address you by name.

Tips for Safe Social Networking

Put the following tips into practice so that you can safely stay connected with your friends and family via your social networks.

• Make sure your social media sites are also secure connections. Look for the lock icon in the lower right hand corner of the browser and https:// (not just http://) in the URL of sites like Facebook and Twitter. If you don’t see the lock there, change your settings on the social media site to the more secure https:// connection.
• Reduce the amount of personal information on your profile. While any one piece of information may be harmless, the combination of a few key pieces of information about you makes it easier for a criminal to do damage (e.g., your name, date of birth, hometown, age, phone numbers, etc.).
• Don’t accept the default privacy settings on social networks. Their objective is to grow usage and traffic so they often have default settings that allow a lot of your information to be seen outside of your network and appear in online searches. Take the time to learn the ins and outs of the site’s privacy settings and how to adjust your settings to protect yourself.
• Post sparingly. Even if you delete the information from a site, older versions exist on other people’s computers. Post with the thought that it will live on forever and ask yourself if you are willing to have this information available to potentially anyone forever. If not, don’t post it.
• Verify friend requests. Be cautious when accepting requests from people you don’t know. Social media identity theft is growing, with criminals posing as others to gain access to that person’s network and information. When you get a request from a “real” friend, check the profile information to make sure it matches what you know about the person. Be suspicious of profiles from friends that are “barebones” with basic information.

10 Simple Things You Can Do to Be More Secure Online

1. Install an Antivirus and Keep it Updated
2. Explore the Security Tools You Install
3. Use Unique Passwords for Every Login
4. Get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and use it
5. Use Two-Factor Authentication
• You need to pass another layer of authentication, not just a username and password, to get into your accounts
6. Use Passcodes even when they are optional
7. Pay with your Smartphone
8. Use Different Email Addresses for Different Kinds of Accounts
9. Turn off the “Save Password” feature in your browser
10. Don’t Fall Prey to “Click Bait”