Protecting Your Personal Information
& Your Computer

 

"If someone tells you they have something for you
and it sounds too good to be true, it's a scam".

 

That's how a lot of people get into trouble on the Internet. An idea or deal that sounds so good is promoted. People want to believe they found the best deal. They want to believe that no one would try to scam them. Unfortunately, there are some individuals that will.

Another way people get into trouble on the Internet is by not protecting their computer against harmful viruses and worms. These computer programs get into your computer and you may not even know they are there. But, they can harvest your personal information, send e-mails out in your name, and sometimes even crash your computer so that you can't use it anymore.

What can you do? Many agencies of our government are working together to educate computer users about what the issues are and how to protect yourself. Below are links to information that can help you recognize scams, recognize if your computer may be compromised, and can help you protect your personal information and your private information.

 

OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.  Enjoy games like the ones below that will help show you how much you do and don't know about online safety.  Read articles from experts.  Watch videos. All geared to be easily understandable and fun.

Below are links to just a few of the publications they make available to help you stay safe online:

• Email Scams
• Identity Theft
• Online Shopping
• Online Tutorials on Internet Safety
• Test Your Cyber Smarts With Online Games
• Watch Online Safety Videos
• Your Health Online

 

More information and resources to help you stay safe:

GetNetWise.org Protect Your Privacy and Your Computer

• Automatically Update Your Protection Software
• Before Your Click on an E-mail Link
• Cyber Security Tips From US-CERT (see below)
• Detailed Instructions for Securing Your Home Computer
• Foreign Lottery Scams, Check Overpayment Scams, Money Orders
• Government Information on Identity Theft
• Investing Online
• Online Shopping
• Phishing
• Privacy Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information
• Software License Agreements - Ignore at Your Own Risk
• Spam Scams
• Spyware
• Staying Safe on the Internet - FTC
• Staying Safe on the Internet - Video Tutorials
• Using Firewalls, Anti-Virus, & E-mail Filters - How To
• Virus Basics
• What to Do If You Get a Computer Virus
• Your State Attorney General's Office

 

If you think someone is misusing your personal information, call:

Fraud Hotline HHS Office of the Inspector General	1-800-447-8477
ID Theft Hotline Federal Trade Commission	1-877-438-4338
FTC-HELP Federal Trade Commission	1-877-382-4357

 

 

 

 

What is the National Cyber Alert System?

The National Cyber Alert System alerts citizens to computer vulnerabilities and threats. They rank the severity of the threats like Homeland Security does for other threats. Anyone can sign up to receive free e-mail notifications of threats and vulnerabilities along with ways to address the identified issue(s).

This service is offered through the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) which is a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the public and private sectors. Established in 2003 to protect the nation's Internet infrastructure, US-CERT coordinates defense against and responses to cyber attacks across the nation.

US-CERT also provides a way for citizens, businesses, and other institutions to communicate and coordinate directly with the United States government about cyber security.

 

 

These are a few of the governmental agencies working together to keep you safe and to provide you with updated and relevant information on protecting both your privacy and your personal information.

 

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