No matter your age, if you use a computer – and especially the internet – you need to be savvy about security. Yet many users have no idea how vulnerable they might be to malicious thieves who can “hack” into personal computers. To prevent theft of information that can rob you and your family of your financial assets – and your dignity – be mindful of the following.
Making effective passwords is the first step to preventing any malicious thieves in the internet world! Combining upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols will ensure that you have a one of a kind password that only you know. On top of that you should change your passwords frequently to keep your information secure.
Educate young video gamers on the importance of protecting personal information, and instruct them to inform you of unusual requests for private facts, photos or activities.
While on social networks, be wary of unknown links to unusual blogs, tweets and other services that invite interaction. Making your social media profile private prevents users from viewing without your person, therefore making them slightly more secure!
When using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, increase your computer’s security levels, and ensure your computer has automated anti-virus upgrades. Choosing to use a public network may be convenient, but there are devices hackers can use to steal information from computers that are sharing the same network. If you have a laptop or other mobile device, always make sure all security settings are placed on private.
During financial transactions, check that you use only trusted websites that start with “https” and “shttp”. Do not use public networks for financial internet use! They are way less secure as mentioned above and you put yourself at risk every time!
Protect data by activating a “firewall” to prevent sensitive information from being transferred without passwords or encryption.
