Our world is more connected than ever before with technology touching much of our work and personal lives.
In recognition of this, October is designated as National Cyber Security Awareness month. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington has partnered with the STOP.THINK.CONNECT campaign to raise awareness about digital and online security.
As hackers become more sophisticated, it’s important to understand how to recognize potential problems and to protect personal information. According to a STOP.THINK.CONNECT survey, 90 percent of respondents indicated they wanted to learn more about keeping safe online.
The same survey showed that consumers were more concerned about identity theft than losing their job or healthcare coverage.
BBB encourages online users to educate themselves about cyber security risks and offer these tips on protecting computers, tablets and mobile phones while online:
• Protect personal information: Start with creating unique and creative passwords for each account and change passwords frequently. Consider using two-factor authentication for your accounts which requires entering a special code. Never give out your password. Delete unsolicited phishing emails asking for personal information.
• Connect with caution: Beware of links in unsolicited emails or those found in ads on social media sites. Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi – these networks are not secure. When entering financial or credit card information, be sure that the website is security enabled (https).
• Share with care: Limit your online presence and the information you share. Check privacy settings on social media. Never post personal details anywhere online. Ask permission before tagging photos of friends.
• Secure Smartphones. Be sure to password protect and lock your smartphones. Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not actively in use. Download apps only from trusted sources. And pay attention to cell phone bills – unauthorized charges and increased data usage may indicate the phone has been hacked.
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