Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and one of our blog carnival topics for this week is to discuss the topic and how important it is.

I thought I would share a few tips I have for staying safe while using the internet:

1. Never Open Links within an Email

If you ever receive an email with a link to login to an account...never click on it. These are often phishing emails and they will steal your information! If you need to login to your account, go to the web site yourself by typing in the regular address. The links may be very similar, but I assure you they are trouble!

2. Only Give Credit Card Info Through Secure Sites

Your web browser should indicate whether the site you are visiting is secure or not. (Mine indicates this by a lock image next to the address bar.) You may also get a pop up window that asks you if you want to show unsecure items...always click No.

3. Use an AntiVirus and Firewall Protection System

There are several systems on the market for antivirus and firewall protection. Make sure you purchase from a well-known company with a good reputation. Set your updates to trigger automatically...this way you always have the latest updates when they become available.

4. Use a Good Password

When choosing passwords here are some things to keep in mind: Use both uppercase and lowercase letters, use a mix of letters and numbers, and use a password that is at least 8 characters long.

I hope this information is helpful and will help keep you safe on the internet :)