How to Stay Safe Online

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Set your Browser to Dump on shut down

This prevents personal data being kept in your laptop incase you pick up a virus, malware, spyware in your temporary internet folder. On FireFox, its Tool > Options > Privacy Tab

Install a tool bar with spyware protection

You can get it free from yahoo at Yahoo Tool bar

Look for https:// and domain.com

Always look for https:// when logging in with passwords. Any web address in your browser address bar usually starts with http:// which is not safe. Authentic Bank, e-commerce login in pages always start with https:// and end with the same domain.

Email Links

Never click on email links or attachments like PDF files unless you trust the person sending it to you. Always check link in the email matches the link on the status bar when you mouse over it on your email program. You could be installling a virus, spyware, malware, trojan horse or worm.

Use an Online Name

Avoid using your real name to protect yourself from identity theft, use an alias instead or shorten it e.g. if your full name is Jennifer Goran, try shortening it to Jenn or JGoran.

Watch out for slowness

If you feel that your keystrokes ar etaking longer than normal to appear on the screen, you could have software that is recording your keystrokes, stop, disconnect and run your updated virus and spyware programs. It can be a little troublesome, but it's nothing compared to the amount of work and stress needed to sort out and undo the mess after your identity is stolen and used without your permission. Home