These are tips from the cyber safety presentation at the NYS Women, Inc. March 2012 board meeting. Kelly McCarthy is a member of the Southern Finger Lakes Women Chapter and is employed by McAfee, Inc. Reach her at [email protected].

Cyber Security Safety Tips

1. Beware of links in emails and unexpected popup windows, type in the URL to go directly to a site if you have an account and access that way.
2. If you want to close a popup window use the “x” in the top corner rather than the Delete or Cancel or No button, malware an be embedded to run when you click on those buttons as well.
3. Don’t provide your social security number or any other personal or banking information as a response to an email from a bank, someone overseas, or anyone that contacts you rather than you contacting them.
4. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is too good to be true.
5. Check previous NIKE articles by Renee Cerullo for excellent Facebook safety and use information.
6. Remember to keep your Facebook list to real Friends and limit access of your information to Friends only, not Friends of Friends. Beware of Facebook specific scams.

Proactive Identity Theft Protection and Detection

1. Don’t check bank accounts or shop online if:
   1. you’re not sure the wi-fi network is safe
   2. you’re on a shared personal computer or kiosk
   3. you’re unsure of the security status of your device
2. Annual credit report checks
3. Review your credit statements and bank accounts regularly
4. Be alert to:
   1. accounts you did not open and unexplained debts on your accounts;fraudulent or inaccurate information on credit reports;
   2. failing to receive bills or other mail;
   3. denied credit, or less favorable credit terms,for no apparent reason;
   4. calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn’t buy.
5. Run a free credit check every 4 months.

Here are a couple of links:

• ftc.gov/idtheft
• OnGuardOnline.gov

Parent Resources

• Child identity theft - The Identity Project
• Cyberbullying
• Sexting
• eGuides
  • Secret Online Lives of Teens
  • Shop Online with Confidence
  • Social Networking e-Guide
  • Internet Safety Plan