DO YOU PRACTICE SAFE COMPUTERING?
DO YOU THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK?
October has been designated National Cyber Security Awareness Month, an annual event which attempts to raise the public’s awareness of internet safety issues. There is no single agreed upon definition of cybercrime, but some examples of it on a personal level include Identity Theft, Identity Fraud, Cyberbullying, Cyberstalking, Phishing, Spoofing, and Malware. As the line between our off-line and on-line lives blurs, the windows of opportunity for cybercriminals increases. A cyber-attack occurs every 39 seconds according to a 2017 University of Maryland study. Are you protecting yourself while surfing the web, using your smartphone, tweeting friends, or indulging in Facebook time? Would you recognize a phishing attempt? Do you know what to do to protect yourself/identity/devices against a cybercriminal?
Here are some websites that can help you be proactive:
Internet Social Networking Risks. (U.S. Department of Justice. Federal Bureau of Investigation) https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo123060
Online Security Basics. (The Ohio State University. Cybersecurity.) https://cybersecurity.osu.edu/cybersecurity-you/develop-safe-habits/online-security-basics
STOP.THINK.CONNECT.™ (Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) https://www.cisa.gov/stopthinkconnect
Ten Steps to Smartphone Security. (Federal Communications Commission) https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/smartphone_master_doument.pdf
Wireless Connections and Bluetooth Security Tips. (Federal Communications Commission. Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau.) https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo127124
And if the worst occurs here are some to help you get your life back together:
IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission) https://www.identitytheft.gov
Identity Theft Basics. (State of Ohio. Attorney General’s Office.) https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401ccp2/id/17835