personal data is more important than ever. Lots of companies collect information while doing business, and that means when those companies get hacked, that customer info gets exposed to the world. Your smarts, though, can make a difference and help protect those people who trust you with their data. Let’s talk about protecting customer information. First, it’s important to know what you can and can’t collect. You can usually find that information in your handbook, or by asking HR; they should be able to point you to the right rules. It all depends on the laws. Making sure you know ahead of time will save you a lot of headaches later! Second, be aware of possible trouble. Some data, like email addresses, seems harmless enough, but it can be exploited by a scammer. If someone approaches you and asks for customer information, you’ll be the first line of security between an innocent person and someone wanting to steal their identity. Always be suspicious when someone asks for info! Third, check out our infographic for more great tips on customer data protection:Can’t view the pdf? Download it here. PROMO: We are also offering Working from Home Cyber Security Packages starting from $30.>

when you’re on public Wi-Fi, never access anything private. Accessing sports scores? Cool. Accessing your bank account? Not so much — not when the Wi-Fi’s owner could be looking over your cyber-shoulder. Second, if you’re using a business’s Wi-Fi, make sure to ask the owner for the exact name and password of the network. That way you can avoid mistakes and copycat networks. By playing it smart and being cautious, you can protect your information and make sure your private information stays private. For more tips and info about Wi-Fi safety, check out our infographic:Can’t view the pdf? Download it here. PROMO: We are also offering Working from Home Cyber Security Packages starting from $30.>

Software updates are sort of like vitamins: Not everyone thinks about them, but everyone needs them, and they can make a big difference in keeping a system healthy. Let’s take a quick minute to talk about updates. Updates help keep a piece of software or a system current. Because new threats are being developed all the time, manufacturers will send out fixes and updates to help protect their users from new threats — or just from problems they didn’t find when the software was first made. If someone discovers a security problem in a program and a user doesn’t download the update to fix the problem, they’re basically leaving a door open. You take a big step in protecting your system when you’re smart about updates. Here are some tips. First, always update the big three. That’s your security software, your web browser and your operating system. Those three are absolutely critical for keeping you and your information safe! Second, you can enable auto-update. Check your programs’ Settings; the option is usually in there to automatically download new updates whenever one’s available. For more info about keeping on top of your updates, check out our infographic:Can’t view the pdf? Download it here. PROMO: We are also offering Working from Home Cyber Security Packages starting from $30.>

“Phishing” is a tech industry term for a kind of cybercrime where people try to fool other people into sending them money or revealing personal information online. The name comes from the idea of fishing: scammers send a message that acts as bait, hoping to “hook” someone. The good news is that you have the power to throw these phish back! Let’s take a minute to talk about what you can do to avoid phishing. First, just be cautious. Remember the old warning about not talking to strangers? It goes double on the internet, since anyone can pretend to be anyone else and an email from an exciting new friend could actually be a trick. Ask your potential phisher to provide proof or explain their amazing offer in detail, and you’ll trip up an attacker really fast. Second, remember not to share sensitive information through emails. Details like your passwords, credit card numbers and Social Security Number are things that no legitimate company would be asking you for in an email. Be sure to check out our infographic for more great tips on spotting and avoiding phishing:Can’t view the pdf? Download it here. PROMO: We are also offering Working from Home Cyber Security Packages starting from $30.>

more risk. Scammers and criminals may try to steal people’s information and money when they shop online. The good news is that there are several simple ways you can act to protect yourself and shop safe online. Let’s take a quick look at some tips. First, never do your shopping on public Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi can have weak security and sending sensitive information like an address and credit card number over a public connection could expose that information to other people. Second, check out the reviews for the site and retailer before you commit to buying anything. You can easily check for scam reports by searching online at the Better Business Bureau. Third, use bookmarks rather than links to reach sites. Links can be spoofed, but when you keep a bookmark to your favorite shopping site, you won’t be redirected by a scammer. With some common sense and care, you can shop safe online and get more bang for your buck. Check out our online shopping safety infographic for more great tips:>