Safety Tips

It’s not possible to emphasise enough the importance of using sensible passwords on your network. Not just on the areas of your network that you don’t want your users to traipse through, but also on the default network shares that are present on installations of commonly used operating systems like Windows NT/2000/XP/2003. One of the ways in which the Conficker worm (also known as Confick or Downadup) uses to spread is to try and batter its way into ADMIN$ shares using a long list of different passwords. ...

Treat your passwords with as much care as you treat the information that they protect. Use strong passwords to log on to your computer and to any site where you enter your credit card number, or any financial or personal information—including social networking sites. Never provide your password over e-mail or in response to an e-mail request. Internet “phishing” scams use fraudulent e-mail messages to entice you to reveal your user names and passwords, steal your identity, and more. Learn more about phishing scams. Do not type passwords on computers that you do not control Computers such as those in Internet cafes, computer labs, kiosk systems, conferences, and airport lounges should be considered unsafe for any personal use other than anonymous Internet browsing. Cyber criminals can purchase keystroke logging devices which gather information typed on a computer, including passwords. Don’t reveal passwords to others Keep your passwords hidden from friends or family members (especially children) who could pass them on to other, less trustworthy individuals. Protect any recorded passwords Don’t store passwords on a file in your computer, because criminals will look there first. Keep your record of the passwords you use in a safe, secure place. Use more than one password Use different passwords for different Web sites and services.

Communicating by using an instant messaging (IM) program has some of the same security and privacy risks as e-mail, but there are a few dangers that are unique to IM. Never open pictures, download files, or click links in messages from people you don’t know. If they come from someone you do know, confirm with the sender that the message (and its attachments) is trustworthy. If it’s not, close the instant message. ...

Social networking Web sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Live Spaces are services people can use to connect with others to share information like photos, videos, and personal messages. As the popularity of these social sites grows, so do the risks of using them. Hackers, spammers, virus writers, identity thieves, and other criminals follow the traffic. Read these tips to help protect yourself when you use social networks. Use caution when you click links that you receive in messages from your friends on your social Web site. Treat links in messages on these sites as you would links in e-mail messages. ...

Strong passwords are important protections to help you have safer online transactions. Keys to password strength: length and complexity An ideal password is long and has letters, punctuation, symbols, and numbers. Whenever possible, use at least 14 characters or more. The greater the variety of characters in your password, the better. Use the entire keyboard, not just the letters and characters you use or see most often. Create a strong password you can remember There are many ways to create a long, complex password. Here is one way that may make remembering it easier: ...

If you suspect that you’ve responded to a phishing scam with personal or financial information, take these steps to minimize any damage. Step 1: Report the incident Contact the following authorities: Your credit card company, if you have given your credit card information. The sooner an organization knows your account may have been compromised, the easier it will be for them to help protect you. The company that you believe was forged. Remember to contact the organization directly, not through the e-mail message you received. ...