Tips: How to Protect Yourself Online

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General Security Tips

• Check with your Internet Service Provider to see what kind of protection is offered by their network and use it.
• Always keep your security software working and up-to-date. Especially if you use a laptop on unprotected wireless networks in airports, cafes and other locations.
• Set up your computer to encrypt all files and transmissions to make it harder for potential intruders to gain access to confidential information. Check your operating system for details on how to do this.
• Install updated anti-virus software and a firewall. Anti-virus programs can prevent infections, and a good firewall will help filter unwanted communication between the internet and your computer.
• Secure your wireless network if you use one at home. Use the highest level of encryption available to your network and change the SSID default setting. Read the details carefully when setting up your wireless router. Skipping those steps is like leaving the front door to your computer open. Anyone nearby can use your network for illegal activities.
• Turn off software features you don't use such as printer sharing and file sharing. If you need to share files between computers set passwords to accounts and give only those accounts access. Never share your entire drive, only share folders which contain the files you want to share.
• Use the latest Web browser version and install security patches when available.
• Turn your computer off or disconnect from the network between uses. Disconnecting your computer from the internet when you're not online, or shutting down the computer, lessens the chance that an intruder will be able to access your system.
  
• Beware of web pages that require software installation. Scan all programs downloaded from the Internet with an up-to-date security solution. Only download programs from websites you trust.
• Always read the End User License Agreement and cancel the installation process if other "programs" are going to be installed in addition to the desired program.
• Create strong passwords. They should contain a combination of letters and numbers and not contain easy obtained information such as nicknames and birthdays. Never share your passwords. Do not write your password down. Do not keep them stored on your computer.
• When you have finished your log-in session, remember to properly log-off and close the browser screen. This ensures that any stored or cached information is deleted from the system and intruders or other viewers are not able to view your confidential information. This is especially important when using a public computer or an unsecured wireless network.
• Make backups of important files onto separate disks. If your computer does become infected, you'll have a clean copy of your files.

Tips for E-mailing

• Don't give out your primary E-mail address unless you absolutely have to. Get a secondary, free E-mail addresses to use for for shopping, random web surfing, or web site reply.
• Beware of unexpected or strange-looking emails, regardless of who the sender is. Never open attachments or click on links in these emails.
• If you trust the sender of the email, scan their email attachments with a security solution before opening them. If they send you a URL and it is short enough, type the URL in your web browser instead of clicking on it from the email.
• Use rules and filters that scan messages as they come in, move them into folders and send automated responses. This will separate out the 'spam' or unwanted e-mail.
• Be alert when receiving emails that request account details. Never email financial information to anyone.
• Don't post your e-mail address anywhere on the web. That will only attract spam.
• Never respond to e-mail inviting you to be taken off their list. This only confirms your address is active and makes your e-mail address even more valuable.

Tips for Safe Online Banking

• Avoid using public terminals (such as Internet cafes) for Internet banking.
• Be aware of the higher risk of interception during a wireless connection. Only do your banking via a wireless hotspot if you are certain of the integrity of the connection.
• Never access the site via a link. Type the address into the browser address bar or save the address as a 'Favourite'.
• Do not open other websites while logged into Internet Banking; only have a single browser window open.
• Check for the padlock in the lower right of your browser window (it indicates a secure site). You can click on this padlock to verify the site "owners".
• When you complete your online banking tasks, log off and close the browser window.
• Never provide your password over the Internet (by email) or over the telephone to anyone (including persons identifying themselves as bank officials).

Tips for Online Shopping

• Shop at secure web sites. Look at the top of your screen where the Web site address is displayed for https://. The "s" that is displayed after "http" indicates that Web site is secure. Often, you won't see the "s" until you actually move to the order page on the Web site.
• Research the web site before you order . Shop from companies that you are familiar with. If it's an unknown company, look for a physical address and phone number. Call it to ensure that the company is legitimate.
• Read the website's privacy and security policies. Find out if the merchant intends to share your information with a third party or affiliate company. Look for online merchants who are members of a seal-of-approval program that sets voluntary guidelines for privacy-related practices, such as TRUSTe, Verisign, or BBBonline.
• The safest way to shop on the Internet is with a credit card. Obtain one credit card that you use only for online payments to make it easier to detect wrongful credit charges.
• Never give out your social security number. There is no reason for the merchant to have it and it could lead to identity theft.
• Don't fall for "phishing" messages. Identity thieves send massive numbers of e-mails to Internet users that ask them to update the account information for their banks, credit cards, online payment service, or popular shopping sites. The e-mail may state that your account information has expired, been compromised or lost and that you need to immediately resend it to the company. Legitimate businesses don't ask for sensitive information via email.
• Save records of your orders. After placing an order online, you should receive a confirmation page that reviews your entire order. It should include the costs of the order, your customer information, product information, and the confirmation number. Print out a copy. Often you will also receive a confirmation message that is e-mailed to you by the merchant. Be sure to save this message as well as any other e-mail correspondence with the company.
• Shop with companies located in the Canada. If not, always read the merchant's shipping policies to find out about extra costs associated with cross border shopping. They can be costly.
• Learn the merchant's cancellation, return and complaint-handling policies. Don't expect less customer service just because a company operates over the Internet. Find out who pays for shipping if the item needs to be returned, what the time limit is and whether or not there is a restocking fee if you need to return the order. Do you get a store credit, or will the company fully refund your charges to your credit card? If the merchant only offers store credits, find out the time restriction for using this credit.

Tips for Parents

• Keep computer in a common area so that you can monitor your child's online activity.
• Agree on websites your kids can visit. Review the content and the privacy and security policies of the sites your child frequents.
• Investigate web filtering tools (such as Windows Vista Parental Controls or Windows Live OneCare Family Safety for Windows XP).
• Talk with your kids about entering personal information online. They should never give out identifying information such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number. Encourage them to use nicknames to identify themselves.
• Tell your children to ignore unwanted contact from people they have never met. Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met on-line.
• Encourage your children to tell you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Praise them when they do so and take approriate action.
• Maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail. Check browser history to see which websites they frequent.
• Encourage your children to be cautious and wise about what they post. They need to be respectful of others.
• Review a website before allowing your children to purchase anything over the Internet. See shopping tips as above.
• Teach your kids not to download programs, music, or files without your permission. File-sharing and taking text, images, or artwork from the web may infringe on copyright laws and can be illegal.