(WIP) Protect Your Privacy Online
Browsing
It's easy to lose track of where you are online. Sometimes links take you places you would rather not be. Not paying attention online can result in all kinds of problems, ranging from embarrassment when you accidentally land on the wrong page, to an infected computer when a link downloads a virus or some malicious software.
Be careful to not accept every internet cookie. Avoid following shortened links unless you fully trust the source - and think twice even then! Don’t open downloaded files until after you scan them for viruses or malicious software. And finally, be careful with search engine results; if you can, scan the URLs of search engine results before you click on them.
Online criminals know how to use keywords associated with holidays, elections and important sporting events to deliver malicious software or scam consumers by frightening them into reacting to fake dangers. Clicking on the wrong link in a search engine may land you on a page loaded with viruses or return a scary pop up message.
Online criminals will use disaster as a cover for identity theft, preying on victims and their families. Identity theft was so prevalent after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that when the US government established the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force they included identity theft among the concerns and challenges to be faced in the aftermath of the disaster.
- Pay attention to where you are
- Think about that link before you click on it: is it safe? Do you know where it will take you?
- Be careful when accepting internet cookies. Cookies allow websites to remember you and your preferences.
- Avoid following shortened links unless you fully trust the source. Shortened links do not always take you where you think they will
- Be careful with search engine results; if you can, scan the URLs of search engine results before you click on them. Clicking the wrong link can take you to a page filled with malicious software.
It is important to know where you are, where you have been, and where you are going when you are online. You needn’t feel unsafe, just be cautious and aware of some of the dangers you can encounter while surfing the web. Whether you are at work or at home, you are the one responsible for protecting yourself online.
Online Shopping
When you're online, take time to check the privacy policies of the sites you use before you submit any personal information. Learn how the sites you visit use your personal information. Check to see if the site publishes a physical address on their contact page. If they do not, ask yourself why.
Stick to trusted merchants (well known shopping sites like Amazon, Zappos, etc.) whenever possible. Sites that use encryption have URLs that start with https:// instead of http:// - the 's' is a good indicator that the website and your data will be secure. Another indicator of a secure website is a lock icon. If you use a new merchant look for the lock icon near the URL or in the lower corner of the window to be sure the site is secure before entering any personal data. If you see the lock and the URL starts with https:// the website is likely to be trustworthy.
- Stick to trusted merchants as much as possible
- Check the privacy policy
- Check for a physical contact address
- Look for the https://
- Look for the lock icon
Trust your instincts when shopping online. If anything about a site makes you feel uncomfortable, or if a deal seems far too good to be true, do not trust the site.
Social Networking Sites
Be careful where you post private information. Never post information that can be used to interfere with financial accounts (things commonly used as answers to security questions) or may expose more than you want made public- your phone number, your full birth date, other important dates, the names of family members, or detailed vacation plans, for instance.
If you use social networking sites on a a regular basis, take the time to adjust your privacy settings. You can adjust who sees what and take steps to control your information. Remember to view your privacy settings regularly - you are subject to that site's privacy policies. Privacy policies can, and do, change with little and information you thought was protected can be exposed to public view. If you post with the mindset that nothing is ever guaranteed to be private on the Internet you will likely to remember to keep your data secure.
- Do not post highly personal or confidential information
- Review the site's privacy policy often - they can change at any time
- Adjust the site's privacy settings to protect what you post - adjust them as needed
- Remember- nothing online remains private
Online Housekeeping
Webpages are made up of multiple files. Your browser caches, or saves, some of the files so the webpage can load faster as you explore the content or so the page will load faster next time you go to it. Cached information can include user names, passwords, financial information, and other sensitive information. Clearing your cache is a quick and easy way to help protect your personal information, especially on a public computer.
Your browser also stores a list of web pages you have visited. The list is called your browser history. Your history is easily accessible and clearing your the list can protect your privacy.