Cyber Security Tips
The National Cyber Security Alliance, a group devoted to raising awareness of Internet
security, declared October National Cyber Security Awareness Month and announced results
of a straw poll that showed average computer users underestimate the risk of cyberthreats.
The poll of 493 home computer users found that 30 percent believed they were more likely
to get struck by lightning, audited by the IRS or win the lottery than be the victim of a
security breach. Here are some tips to pass along.
1. Use antivirus software and keep it up to date.
2. Don’t open e-mails or attachments from unknown sources. Be suspicious of any
unexpected e-mail attachment, even if it appears to be from someone you know.
3. Protect your computer from Internet intruders. Use firewalls.
4. Regularly download security updates and patches for operating systems and other
software.
5. Use hard-to-guess passwords. Mix upper and lower case letters, numbers and other
characters, and make sure they are at least eight characters long.
6. Back up your computer data on disks or CDs regularly.
7. Don’t share access to your computer with strangers. Learn about file-sharing
risks.
8. Disconnect from the Internet when not in use.
9. Check your security on a regular basis. When you change your clocks for
daylight-savings time, reevaluate your computer security.
10. Make sure all family members know what to do if the home computer becomes infected.
