The internet and computers allow access to a variety of information from financial management to ordering products, from travel arrangements to entertainment. More than any other time in history, information and resources are at our fingertips and a few clicks away. This is truly the Information Age.

Along with this rapid progression of technology there are concerns and precautions that need to be implemented in order to keep your personal information safe. Securing your computer with stong passwords, and updating virus protections and firewalls are a major part of internet security. However, precautions need to be taken in regards to email security, id protection, and within online communities where private information can be shared.

No - Don't Use:

• First, middle, last names or initials
• Social security numbers or birthdays
• Names of friends, family, or pets
• Place names, addresses or phone numbers
• Whole words from any dictionary
• Sequence/repetition of numbers/letters
  (11,22,33 - asdf or fdsa - 3,2,1)
• Names: username, login, computer name
• Any other personal information that could be guessed
• Duplicate the same and password for multiple accounts

Yes - Do Use:

• Special characters or punctuation as @#$%&! ?._+=
• Mix random upper AND lower case letters throughout the password
• Mix random numbers with letters
• Make up nonsense words that are easy to pronounce and not in the dictionary
• Eight or more mixed characters
• Change passwords frequently at least every other month.
• Different login accounts should have completely different passwords.
• Create a "Super Password" of 12 characters for optimum security.

Also to note: Security Questions

• It is best to write your own question
• Choose unlikely and non-obvious answers.
• Example: "What is your mother's maiden name?" Answer: Tropical Forest

• Don't share your password with anyone. Most reputable ISPs and server administrators never ask for your password. Know your network. If an email asks for your password, do not respond.
  
  
• Update browser and email programs frequently
  
  
• Do not open attachments. Period. If someone you don't know sends attachments, don't open them. If someone you know sends attachments, don't up unless you are expecting it.
  
  
• Automatically delete email from unknown sources
  
  
• Do not respond to spam, ignore and delete and/or forward it to appropriate department. Responding to spam lets the sender know that you have an active, valid email address.
  
  
• Log out of your email account. If you are using a public terminal close the browser before you leave.
• Email or popup asking for personal information, do not reply, click or respond.
  
  
• Install and keep current any antivirus and firewall protections. Phishing email may contain harmful viruses.
  
  
• Know legitimate emails from third parties and the security policies in how your email will be used

Tips to help minimize your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft:

• Be cautious, don't share share personal information with anyone you meet through the Internet.
  
  
• Do not respond to any messages that ask you for your password, even if they appear to be from someone in authority.
  
  
• Personal information on paper should be shredded
  
  
• Never dispose of personal information on public terminal trashcans
  
  
• Shred an important paper information with any personal information, statements, bank, creditors and credit offers
  
  
• Install and keep current any antivirus and firewall protections.
  
  
• Before sending personal and financial information over the internet, look for a secure Padlock icon in your toolbar.
  
  
• Use a credit service to regularly monitor personal information on the three major consumer credit reporting companies.

• Be aware of urls, look for @ symbol which could indicate a fraudulent web site.
  
  
• Be cautious, don't share share personal information with anyone you meet through the Internet.
  
  
• Adjust browser settings to prompt you when a web site tries to install programs and applications, Active X or any exe files.
  
  
• Internet businesses that capture private information should show an "https:" in the url as well as the Padlock icon
  
  
• Be aware of "orphan" pages. If you cannot locate the home page for your company, or "under construction" or appears different than you know it to be, be cautious and call a customer service representative
  
  
• "Bookmark" trusted web sites that use personal information
  
  
• Carefully read all End User Licensing Agreements and avoid downloading software when licensing agreements are difficult to understand.
  
  
• Everything you read online may or may not be true

• Don't use your real name
  
  
• Don't give out personal information: name, phone number, birthdate, credit cards, banking information, names and passwords
  
  
• If meeting someone you met on the internet, meet in a public place
  
  
• People may not be what they seem. Be aware of misrepresentation
  
  
• Remember email and chats may not be private

• Know the images your child is posting online
  
  
• Be aware of children's online use and computer time
  
  
• Be aware of children's activities, connections, friends
  
  
• Disallow chat rooms and restrict instant messaging paremeters
  
  
• Never a good idea to meet face-to-face especially in private and remote location
  
  
• Establish household online rules and stick with it
  
  
• Don't give out personal information: name, phone number, birthdate, parents or family names, address, school, clubs or teams
  
  
• Don't put childs name and email address in any public directories or profiles
  
  
• If you or your children receive messages or images that are obscene, lewd, and/or indecent with the intent to harass, abuse, or threaten, you should immediately report this to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tipline at 1-800-843-5678 or Cybertip: Missing Kids.com

For more information and guidelines for internet safety: Enough.org

A firewall is security barrier which is either a hardware or software application to protect your computer resources and networks. It enforces security policies and precautions much like a lock on a door of your house or building. Firewalls allow only those with special access to enter protecting you from offensive web sites, potential hackers and crackers. It is worth the time and investment to install proper security measures.

Reasons for Firwall Protection

• Backdoor Applications that allow remote/hidden access, bugs, viruses, trojans
• SMTP Highjacking that gains access to email lists for spam and email redirections
• Remote Access/Login applications that allow the user to control the computer
• System/Browser faults that allow breaches of access and malicious operations
• Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and redirect bombs can be detected and blocked.
• Email bombs are a personal attacks of hundreds of emails overloading the system
• Macros other programmable operations that allow malicious scripts to run
• Firewalls disable source routing that hackers may take advantage of.
• Viruses, worms, trojans, and other downloadable malware
• SPAM junk email that contain harmful applications