DO
•Familiarize yourself with a Web site's privacy policy, especially if you are asked to provide confidential and/or personal data.
•Create strong passwords and protect them carefully or consider using password protection software.
•Strong passwords have eight characters or more and use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
•Consider disabling file sharing on your computer.
•Be careful about opening attachments, especially from unknown senders.
•Review bank and credit card statements regularly.
•Install and regularly update software firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware solutions.
•Keep your Windows® operating system and all your applications updated with the latest security patches.
•Shred bank and credit card statements and other financial data before disposal.
•Take advantage of your right to a free annual credit report.
DON'T
•Don't provide personal data to anyone over the phone or in person (for a job or loan application, for example) unless you are certain of the other party's trustworthiness.
•Don't ever give out your personal information in response to an email, a Web site you've come to through an external link, or a pop-up screen that appears on a real Web site. Open a new browser window and type the URL directly into the address bar to ensure the site is legitimate.
•Don't keep financial data on laptops unless absolutely necessary; laptops are far more likely to be stolen than desktops.

 

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