1. Don’t fall prey to phishing schemes. These are most commonly done via email. Many identity thieves send out fake emails, pretending to be from a bank, government agency or well known website such as Facebook. In this email, they will warn you about a security threat or tell you that you must confirm your social security number or other data.

When you get an email like this, never click on any links. If you click on the link, it may take you to a site that looks real. This doesn’t mean it is the real site, however. It could be a fake site that is designed to get your information. If you are not certain if the email is authentic or not, type the site’s URL in your browser rather than clicking on the link sent in the email. If there is a genuine issue, you can find out by logging in to your account.

2. Choose your passwords carefully. Even in this security conscious age, many people use passwords that are easy to guess. Never use passwords that contain your birthdate (or that of family members), your kids’ names, or any variation on your own name. You should also use a unique and separate password for every sensitive account you have online.

3. Be cautious when using public computers. It’s best to avoid engaging in any financial or sensitive transactions on public computers, such as those in libraries, internet cafes, colleges or at work. If you do conduct any personal business on these computers, make sure you log out of every site you were using at the end of your session.

1. Only use secure websites. When you use a secure site, your credit card information is encrypted.

2. Secure your home wireless network. By protecting your network with a password, you prevent your neighbors and anyone who is close enough to your house to be in range of your network from stealing your personal information.The whole story can be found at http://www.king5.com/news/local/Bill-Gates-Cyber-threat-financial-info-198386841.html

3. Use different passwords for each of your financial accounts. For added security, add capital letters and numbers to your passwords and do not use your pet’s or your children’s names as passwords.

4. Order a copy of your credit report every four months. Because you can get each of your three credit reports once a year, stagger your orders so you have a fresh copy of your credit report every four months. If your financial data has been compromised, you will know within a few months, minimizing any damage an identity thief can do to your credit standing.

Protecting the home is just as important (probably a little more) as protecting yourself when you journey about the internet. That’s where sites like http://www.securitychoice.com/ can really come in handy – especially if you have a family.

Considered to be the 1 home security company in America, these guys blend both sophisticated home monitoring equipment and practical application to give you an experience that will, hopefully, give you the peace of mind you deserve.

They offer a plethora of monitoring equipment – all top of the line – but their real claim to fame is the 24/7 monitoring they provide. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, if that alarm system is triggered, they are going to know about it the instant it happens and action will be taken.

And yeah, while protecting the home isn’t quite the same as protecting yourself online, it’s just as important. So when you’re not too busy bolstering your cyber defenses, you might look around your home and make sure it’s just as secure. If not, do something about it – the site I provided is a great place to start if you’re unsure.

Though we know not to click on some links we come across, here are 5 links you should never click on:

E-mail links: No matter what kind of link you get in your e-mail, never click on it. Instead, go to the website by typing it in the browser.

Banking links: Also, never click on advertisements that will “lead” you to your bank account information.

Gambling links: Gambling advertisements can pop up all the time, but you never want to click on them.

Porn links: If you click on porn links, you may be lead to inappropriate sites that download viruses on your computer.

Pop-ups: You want to make sure you avoid clicking on pop up ads at all times.

Clicking on any of the above links may get you into some serious trouble. Though it may be tempting to see what the link takes you to, it’s important to try and avoid temptation because it’s never worth the hassle or trouble it could get you in.

Avoid bank websites: When you use a public computer, it’s best to avoid using any type of banking website. Whether you’d like to see your credit card statement or how much money is on your debit card, it’s best to avoid these sites completely so that you don’t get your information hacked or saved on the public computer.

Avoid personal information: You also want to avoid any sites that ask for your social security number or things like your name and address.

Risky sites: Risky sites such as porn sites and gambling sites should also be avoided when in public. It never hurts to avoid them entirely as well.

E-mails: Though it may seem innocent, avoid logging into your e-mail on a public computer as you may forget to log out or it may automatically sign you in from now on.

As you can see, there are some great ways to surf the Internet safely while out in public.

Online security is essential and indispensable; it protects sensitive and personal information, as well as makes it safe to shop online. Want more? Click here. Although all browsers are equipped with the basic security features that make it safe and OK to surf the Web, it does matter which browser is used.

While all browsers may operate the same, they are developed differently. For this reason, some browsers are not only more secure than others, but they also are a lot faster, and they offer more security features, which are stronger and able to detect more threats.

Nevertheless, you should always have a reliable antivirus program, and you should stay true to using it whenever you are online, no matter which browser you are using. This not only will enhance your online security, but this will also enhance your online experience.

Avoid Spam and Scams:
Never give out your primary email address to any website. Set up a email from a free email service provider to use as a email for website sign ups and shopping. Never click on any link that comes within an email. Type the website address into the address bar to ensure you are being directed to a legitimate site.

Protect Your Bank and Credit Cards: Only give banking information or credit card numbers to trusted merchants. Didn’t catch that? This explains it. Make sure the website is secure before inputting any important banking numbers. Look for the lock on the bottom of the page to ensure a secure site.

Meet In Public:
If you are buying or selling something online; meet the other person in a public location. Never go alone and do not let anyone know your address.

Keep Your Computer Safe:
Install a good antivirus and spyware protection program and use it. Utilizing these programs will keep your computer safe from hackers and viruses. These programs will not work if they are not used.

Avoid Opening Email Attachments:
Never open anything in an email attachment from anyone. Email attachments often have viruses that will infect your computer and cause it to crash.