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FBI
Simple Steps
for Internet Safety
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
DHS graphic for National Cyber Security Awareness Month, October 2016:
Our Shared Responsibility
In today’s digital world, online safety should be of paramount concern
for all individuals and organizations because the threats posed by
cyber criminals can’t be ignored. And to counteract these threats,
there are steps you can take to minimize the risks associated with
doing any kind of business online, surfing the Internet, and/or sharing
information on social media sites.
The first step to greater Internet safety is a basic yet vital
one—change online passwords several times a year. Use different
passwords for each online account, and make them unique but not easily
guessed.
Additional levels of cyber security, like two-factor authentication
(TFA), can provide even greater protection for your information. TFA is
a technology that increases security by incorporating requirements
beyond a password, like a particular physical trait, a dynamic PIN, or
the location or time of a login attempt. Many e-mail service providers
and social media platforms offer TFA as a free service—most require a
strong password and supply a PIN that changes periodically. Users can
receive these PINs easily via mobile applications or text messages.
In terms of social media, remember that once personal or organizational
information has been posted to a social networking site, that
information can no longer be considered private and can be—and
sometimes is—used for criminal purposes. The highest security settings
on an Internet account may not be enough to prevent a leak of sensitive
data—for example, cyber criminals often can obtain personal passwords
regardless of their complexity. In doing so, they can gain access to
banking credentials and credit card numbers, get hold of social
security information, download malware to a computer, or hijack a
device to perpetrate further crimes. So be careful—post as little
personal information as possible, use two-factor authentication, and
beware of embedded links that—if clicked on—may lead to scam webpages
and malware being downloaded to your computer or mobile device.
Another level of online security involves protecting your mobile
devices from cyber intruders in public places. Not all WiFi hotspots at
coffee shops, airports, or hotels have strong security protections.
Persons in close proximity may be able to access that open network and
collect your login information and the content of your online browsing.
Securing your phone or tablet is as simple as avoiding sensitive sites
that require a login, so try to avoid signing into bank accounts,
e-mail, or social media accounts while on a public WiFi hotspot. But if
you have to, use a reliable personal virtual private network (VPN)
service provider. A VPN enables data encryption and adds a layer of
security to communications, making it more difficult for cyber
criminals to spy on you.
An out-of-band backup is another useful cyber security technique. This
involves backing up your data to a virtual, cloud environment or
storing hard copies of digital data at a physical location elsewhere.
Using this method is ideal in combating ransomware, a type of malware
which restricts access to files or threatens their destruction unless a
ransom is paid to the cyber-based
Kids too can learn steps to Internet safety through the FBI’s Safe
Online Surfing (SOS) program. SOS is a nationwide initiative designed
to educate children from grades 3 to 8 about the dangers faced when
surfing the web. SOS promotes good cyber citizenship among students by
engaging them in a fun, age-appropriate, competitive online program
where they learn how to safely and responsibly use the Internet.
Though myriad methods and tools exist to protect the public and
organizations from the risks of cyber crime, your best defense is
understanding and implementing strong security practices and
maintaining them regularly. Doing so can raise a perpetual firewall
against cyber criminals and keep your sensitive data safe.
More Internet Safety Tips
Protect your computer. Keep your firewall turned on, and make
sure your antivirus and antispyware software is up to date and your
operating system is current. And be very careful what you
download—opening an e-mail attachment from someone you don’t know or
even forwarded attachments from people you do know could potentially
infect your computer with malicious code.
Beware of social media scams. One of those scams involves posts on
social media sites appearing to offer vouchers or gift cards that
require you to fill out a survey, but that survey is designed to steal
your personal information. Also, don’t post pictures of theater,
concert, or sporting event tickets on social media—fraudsters can
create a fake ticket using the barcode obtained from the photo.
Smartphone App Scams. Before downloading an app from an unknown source,
look for third-party reviews. Some apps, often disguised as games and
offered for free, may be designed to steal personal information from
your device.
Be on the lookout for online shopping scams. Scammers often defraud
consumers by offering too-good-to-be-true deals via phishing e-mails or
advertisements on untrusted websites—including offers for brand name
merchandise at extremely low discounts or promises of gift cards as
incentives to purchase products. You may end up paying for an item,
giving away personal information and credit card details in the
process, and receive nothing in return except a compromised identity.
Don’t fall for work-from-home scams. You may see websites or postings
offering work you can do from the comfort of your own home, but many of
these opportunities have unscrupulous motivations behind them. Always
carefully research the job posting and the individual or company
offering you employment.
As always, if you suspect you’ve been the victim of a cyber crime,
contact law enforcement and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet
Crime Complaint Center.
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