Staying Digital Safe

With so much information traveling through computers, the internet, and our cell phones, we have to take steps to keep ourselves and our data safe. Here are 5 ways you can stay safe in a digital world. Free Virus Scan Software – Comodo Antivirus a. This is a full version of anti virus software b. Do not download if you are already running antivirus on your pc like Norton, Mcafee, AVG, etc.. Use strong passwords or a password keeper program a. Mixing letters, numbers, and symbols is a good idea b. Use minimum of 8 characters when possible c. Use a program like KeePass which requires you to only remember the master password Backup all of the files on your pc a. If your computer is lost or stolen you can recover your files b. Online solutions like Carbonite.com allow you to access your files via the web once they have been backedup (Use code TAR1 to get a 20% discount!) Subscribe to identity theft programs a. NAR recommends Identity Secure b. Another option – LifeLock c. A free option is AllClear ID Use common sense. The best protection is prevention. a. Don’t open suspicious looking emails. Delete them! b. Don’t click on links that claim you have won a jackpot c. Don’t provide your bank info, social security, or personal information via email