The Internet touches nearly every aspect of our daily life, which in part explains why securing our private data from online hackers has become one of the biggest consumer challenges of our time.
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the Call Christina team has been meeting with the experts to identify several tips on how to protect your computer from hackers and how you can surf safely.
Since most people use their computers to shop, bank, and social network, among other activities, it's important to keep your data and your computer safe and secure from cyber criminals.
Even something as simple as clicking "Accept" on user agreements online without reading them can compromise your personal information.
"It's very easy to simply click 'Agree' and not read the terms and conditions of these sites. There's a lot that these companies can bury in those terms," Nova Southeastern University law professor Jon Garon said.
Ashley Madison, Sony and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management were recent victims of hackers who stole and exposed personal data. These three attacks highlight the difficult task of protecting your private data.
"Information is much likely to be stolen at some time, [even] information that you gave out days, weeks, [and] months ago," Garon said.
If your computer is having trouble staying on or off, acting slowly, opening pages you never clicked, or displaying a lot of popups, there's a possibility your computer has been hacked or infected with a virus.
Cyber Tips:
• Set strong passwords, change them regularly and don't share them with anyone.
• Use privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information you post online.
• Be cautious about offers online—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
• Disconnect your device (computer, gaming system, tablet, etc.) from the Internet. By removing the Internet connection, you prevent an attacker or virus from being able to access your computer and perform tasks such as locating personal data, manipulating or deleting files or using your device to attack others.
• If you have anti-virus software installed on your device, update the virus definitions and perform a manual scan of your entire system. Install all of the appropriate patches to fix known vulnerabilities.
The Federal Trade Commission has several tips to keep you safe online and on your computer.
• Immediately stop shopping, banking, or entering passwords online, and take your computer offline. If your computer has been infected with malware, a virus, or a keylogger, there's a chance your passwords could be stolen when you type them in.
• Update your security software (requires online connection) or install a new one. Make sure to watch out for the ones that pose as legitimate security software but instead end up installing malware on your computer. If you're not sure which one to buy or download, read online reviews by using your phone or an uninfected computer.
• Get back online with your new or updated security software and scan your computer. If it finds any malware, virus, Trojan, etc., it'll flag them for you. Then, immediately remove them and restart your computer.
• Get tech support if you're still having problems. Contact your computer's manufacturer or a computer technician.
• Create new passwords once your computer is back to normal. The FTC recommends using passwords with uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and symbols.
• Keep your browser and operating system up to date. Although it can sometimes be annoying to have your computer restart itself in order to install an update, it's important to have the latest security patches.
In addition to these tips from the FTC, Garon said you should be more careful about what you post online, isolate your financials online, and have different credit cards for different uses.
MORE: Internet Safety and Security Tips for Parents.
"Be very careful about what you post. No information is private," Garon said.
These are just a few ways to keep you safe on the web. Thankfully, companies are now becoming more sophisticated and encrypting data.
The FBI is more aggressive in prosecuting hackers with a five-year minimum sentence. Additionally, the FTC is taking an increasingly strong stand and using the regulatory power to shut down companies that are not being careful about the data breaches.
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