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Friday, August 22, 2014

5 Tips To Protect Your Information & Identity From Hackers

      As a result of major information leaks occurring in the past months, online security is a growing concern for many. These recent breeches have created awareness about the importance of taking preventative measures to safeguard our information to reduce the effect that any cyber attack can have. Below, we will discuss 5 tips to help you protect your personal information from hackers.

Tip #1: Change your passwords frequently.
It is recommended that you change your passwords at least once every 90-180 days depending on the importance of the information handled in the account. This could prevent your accounts from being spied on  long-term and more of your information falling into the wrong hands

Tip #2: Don't use the same password for multiple sites.
Using the same password across several account makes you a more vulnerable target. Sure, one password is easier to remember, but if login information for one of your accounts is obtained by hackers they can easily attempt to login to other sites with the same information.

Tip #3: Turn on cookie notices in your web browser.
Most browsers now have features that allow you to see when a site tries to write a cookie file to your hard drive. The notification usually gives you some information about the cookie and allows you to decide to accept or decline it. If there doesn't appear to be a legitimate reason for any tracking to occur, don't accept.

Tip #4: Have a separate email account for certain activities. 
Experts recommend that you have a side account to use for initial emails with individuals that you don't know, registering for online promotions that many retailers/services offer, and to use when posting on blogs and online forums. In case that this email is compromised, your professional and personal accounts will remain safe.

Tip #5: Never reply to spam emails.
Avoid opening emails that look suspicious, and if you happen to accidentally open one remember to never reply "Unsubscribe" or "Do not send me any further emails" this just confirms that you received the email and are still a target for obtaining information.

We hope that these bits of advice can help you take steps in protecting your information. If you have any other suggestions please comment below!