Computer Security Tips

• Use strong passwords for your computer, e-mail, and financial accounts.
• Use variations of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols of at least 8 characters.
• Do not use passwords based on information that is publicly known about you, such as birthdates, names of family members, address, etc.
• Install anti-virus software and update it regularly.
• Set your software to automatically scan your computer for viruses.
• Scan e-mail attachments and internet downloads for malware.
• Install and activate a software and hardware firewall.
• Check for updates to your operating system.
• Set your computer to lock-up after a period of inactivity and require a password to re-activate.
• Back up all of your data routinely using a USB drive to store the information.
• Never click on links contained in e-mails - type the link into a new browser tab.
• Never open attachments from unknown e-mail senders.
• Never download software programs from unknown publishers.
• If you are the victim of a computer crime, report it to www.ic3.gov or submit information on our form.