As you prepare for the new school year, learn how you can help protect your computer and all the valuable information on it from viruses, spyware and identity theft.
With a new school year starting, your computer’s safety may not be the first thing on your mind right now. But did you know that students are among the groups most often targeted by identity thieves and computer hackers? Before you have to explain that a virus destroyed your homework, take a few minutes now to learn how you can help protect your computer and all the valuable information on it.
Anti-virus and anti-spyware software – Protect your personal computer and your data from today’s viruses and spyware by making sure your security software is up to date. Norton Internet Security1 provides 12 months of protection to help keep your computer safe when you e-mail, swap files, download programs and chat.
Downloading files – Use caution when downloading anything to your computer. Don’t download files that come from unknown sources or senders via e-mail or instant messenger file transfers. Even if the sender is someone you know, scan the document for viruses and confirm with the sender what the attachment contains before you open it.
File backups – Store copies of all your important files on a removable disc or external drive to help protect your data if your system is compromised or crashes.
Firewalls – Keep hackers out of your personal data—including credit card numbers and bank statements—by making sure your firewall is turned on.
Locks – Help prevent theft while working in public places, like a café or the library, by securing your PC to a fixed object.
Pop-ups – Pesky pop-up ads can do more than just annoy you. They can also quickly spread viruses or spyware on your computer. Avoid pop-ups by installing pop-up blockers through your web browser. You can always allow pop-ups on trusted websites on an as-needed basis.
Web browsing – Avoid visiting unknown websites whenever possible. If you must visit an unfamiliar site, be wary. Pirated websites can change your browser settings or install programs on your PC without you even knowing.
Wireless networks – Always assume that public wireless hot spots are not secure. Avoid sending sensitive or personal information such as credit card numbers or passwords over any unsecured wireless network.
Protecting yourself
Passwords – Use strong passwords on all your sign-in accounts. A good password is difficult to guess, and has a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and characters. Be sure to keep your passwords private and change them frequently to deter hackers.
Phishing – Beware of phishing schemes designed to steal personal information. Phishers pose as a company, such as a bank or credit card company, to collect personal information including account numbers and passwords. E-mails are often common phishing-scheme carriers, but instant messages and faxes can also be culprits. Tips to protect against phishing schemes
Watch for generic salutations (Dear Valued Customer), misspelled words or incorrect website domain names.
Don’t comply with a suspicious e-mail request asking you to update account information, and avoid clicking on any of the e-mail’s links. Instead, directly contact the company in question to make changes to your account.
Never share sensitive data such as credit card numbers, account usernames, passwords or Social Security numbers through e-mail or instant messaging.
Privacy controls – Use the privacy controls offered by social networking sites to make your information viewable only to friends. The controls may require that your friends know your last name or e-mail address in order to request a connection.
Usernames – When creating screen names, profiles, websites and blogs, choose usernames that don’t give away too much personal information.
Awareness is your first step toward increased computer safety. Now, put what you’ve learned into action to help protect your computer and personal information all school-year long.
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