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Like wearing a bike helmet, staying safe on the Internet is all about taking the right precautions. In celebration of National Internet Safety month, we’re directing you to some resources from the National Cyber Security Alliance’s (NCSA) website. The National Cyber Security Alliance is a non-profit organization that collaborates with the government, corporate, non-profit and academic sectors to empower citizens to use the Internet securely and safely. Visit their site, www.staysafeonline.org, for more information and resources.
Tip Sheets from the NCSA
The NCSA has put together some tip sheets that are great reminders and can help facilitate Internet safety discussions with your family. Some of the sheets include:
- Online Gaming Safety – Tips for Parents: Most video games are connected to the Internet whether they are played through an Internet browser or a computer or gaming console. NCSA gives steps on how you can help keep your child’s information safe and be an informed parent.
- Mobile Device Safety Tip Sheet: With apps that access your location, public wi-fi hotspots, and text messages with suspicious links, mobile safety is just as important as on the home computer. These tips serve as a good reminder about how to safely manage your mobile devices.
- Safe Social Networking Tip Sheet: Taking time to set your privacy settings and being conscious of the personal information you share is what helps keeps social media enjoyable. Go over these tips with your family so that everyone is on the same page about what information should be shared and how to keep accounts secure.
- For more tip sheets, visit www.staysafeonline.org/tools-resources/tip-sheets
Free Security Checkups
NCSA has provided a list of security vendors who offer free online security checkups. Most of these will search for viruses and spyware and will help you keep a clean machine. Check out the list of vendors here: www.staysafeonline.org/tools-resources/free-security-check-ups
Also, check out the Microsoft Computer Safety Index survey. The survey will ask you some questions about your online habits, then will walk you through some steps to check the settings on your computer. (For PC only)
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