Protect Your Computer

Security Center

By using these tips you can help protect your identity while on your computer.

Keep your Internet browser up-to-date

Not all web browsers read website codes the same way, and if you are experiencing problems; first check to make sure you are using the most current version of your preferred web browser. Popular web browsers include: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. A good web browser can be made up of these factors: speed, simplicity and security. You want to have a web browser that will be able to load webpages quickly, no matter what the content is. A browser should also be simple and easy to use. And lastly browsers should be very secure, because if you don’t secure your web browser it can lead to a variety of computer problems.

Safeguarding Your Password

Do:

  • Establish a password at least eight characters long.
  • Make it something you can easily remember, but difficult for someone to guess.
  • Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Change your password periodically.
Do Not:
  • Give out your password to anyone, especially if prompted by an email or phone request.
  • Write it down in any accessible place.
  • Make it something that can be easily guessed – birthdays, kids’ names or pets’ names.
  • Make it your name or part of your SSN.
  • Have the same password for all accounts

Helpful Hints

  • Create an acrostic from the letters of a phrase. For example, “I have too many passwords to remember!” could be a password of “Ih2Mp2r!”. If you have to change the password with some frequency, use the password phrase and the numbers representing the month and year, “Ih2Mp2r!0612”
  • Make up a nonsense word from pronounceable syllables, for example: a. NUKARGO (new-car-go) b. BLUSKYDAY (blue-sky-day)
  • Use special characters #, $, and @ with numbers to form pronounceable passwords: A. I81#ofF@ (I ate one pound of fat.) B. $$Talks2 (Money talks, too.)