Protect Yourself From Cybercrime

The Internet is an unparalleled tool, entertainer, and a lifestyle friend, but it’s just as easy to lose everything or become a victim of cybercrime.

The amount of personal information we share online is staggering and that is exactly what criminals are searching for. So while you are online paying your electricity bill, chatting with your great aunt, or treating yourself to that new sweater you’ve been wanting, be sure to take steps not to fall prey to cyber criminals. To start with, here are a few tips to protect yourself, all that you have, and to prevent such cybercrime as identity theft, financial fraud, hacking and more:

• Use different passwords for different accounts and avoid using automatic login features that save your username and password.

• Be careful about sharing your location, work schedule, or vacation details. These tell people if your home is empty, and where you can be found.

• Do not reply to, or click on links in any email that looks suspicious. Remember that links shared by friends can be malicious too, and they might not even know it.

• Be cautious of emails from financial institutions, Internet service providers and other organizations asking you to provide or update personal information online. Check with those organizations first before replying.

• When making transactions online, look for the lock symbol on the website or “https://” at the beginning of the website address, both of which indicate that the site and your transaction is secure.

• Do not use public Wi-Fi or public computers when banking online.

• Password-protect every device and keep security software updated.

Protect while you connect. More information is available online at GetCyberSafe.ca.

www.newscanada.com