Critical tips to keeping your information secure online

Jan 27, 2012, 9 a.m.

Online security should be foremost in the mind of every Internet user. The web provides an endless stream of information. The available details encompass historical facts, government records, current marketing projects, entertainment resources, and access to personal and private financial matters. If you are not careful, the Internet will also include details concerning matters of privacy online that are pertinent to your personal circumstances.

Identity thieves crave your personally identifiable information and your money. Hackers spend days learning how to invade online security defenses. At this point in history, privacy online may be more fantasy than reality.

The following steps will help protect your online privacy.

Practice Personal Online Security Wisdom

Treat personally identifiable information the same as you would treat cash money. Anytime someone or some website makes a request for your Social Security number, credit card numbers, bank numbers or utility account details, consider the risk associated with the release of that information. Remember these three primary security points:

No legitimate company uses email to request private information
No legitimate website uses a forum to request private user details
Never exchange personally identifiable information via a phone call that you did not initiate.

Think Like a Security Program

Modern security software touches on new levels of protection. It now examines your computer, learns what makes up your system's normal software patterns, and it is capable of identifying any deviation from that pattern. You can learn to do the same:

Be aware of what belongs on your taskbar
Know what screen displays are normal
Be alert for what belongs on your browser's toolbar
Watch for changes in the default search engine.

Use Security Software That Updates Automatically

The attacks never end. Every new online protection scheme is eventually violated. Privacy online depends on privacy within your personal computer system. Use security software that updates automatically and often. Primary tips in this matter include the following:

Make sure that your automated security software comes from a legitimate source
Don't fall for emails or pop-up messages that announce infection but do not come from your installed security software package
Keep the Operating System and your browser up to date with current versions.

Website Identification

Only give your personally identifiable information over encrypted websites. Look at the primary address bar on your browser. It works like this:

Http identifies a standard web address

Https identifies a website that is encrypted for security

Special tip: Pay attention to domain names. Many scammers setup websites that use a known corporate title but with some minor difference in the spelling. For example: Myybank.com is not the same as Mybank.com. Never use an email link to open your bank account.

Use Security Focused Online Passwords

The principles are simple. Passwords should be:

Lengthy
Unpredictable
Account specific
Private
Stored in a secure manner

Bonus Tip To Ensure Maximum Privacy Online

Refrain from sharing too much personal and/or family information over the Internet. Every piece of shared data is a link that can be used to build an identity chain capable of robbing your assets. Age, address, self-portraits, photos of your home, even too much information concerning your taste in music can be used as a stepping stone toward breaching your online security defenses.

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