Here is a quick list for safe surfing on the Internet. If you exchange sensitive information with your bank, broker, PayPal, eBay, utility company, government office, etc., please read this. You can easily print it if you like.
I assume you have anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and a firewall, at least, and that everything is up to date including Windows.
1. Before sending confidential info, click on the little gold padlock on the upper or lower part of your screen and check the site’s security certificate. If it is out of date, or says Unknown or Self-issued, that means trouble. You could be on a phony site.
2. Even if the certificate is OK, make sure the inner pages on the site are also secure, and begin with https://… although this is not foolproof.
3. Never allow your browser or a web site to remember your user name or password. Never send your Social Insurance/Security Number or birth date to a site unless you are sure it is secure.
4. Avoid public computers, or anyone else’s computer, to exchange confidential data.
5. When you are done, log out properly. Do not just minimize or close the page.
6. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options, General tab. Delete your Cookies, Temporary Internet Files and clear the History.
7. If you are on a wireless network, make sure you are using WPA or WPA2, not the older insecure WEP. Do not use the default settings your router came with. These usually provide little or no security.
For more on setting up wireless security for your home, click here: http://mypcsecurityblog.com/?p=47
8. Check your statements or paperwork as soon as it arrives. Report discrepancies promptly to the company.
Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here: => http://mypcsecuritysite.com/
You may include these Tips in your web sites and publications provided they remain unchanged and include the above paragraph, with the author’s name and web site.
