Internet safety

- Don’t give out any personal information - Guard your home address, date of birth, bank or credit card information and phone numbers.

- Use caution when opening attached files - A file attached to an e-mail is a common way for a virus to spread. Think first before opening attachments even if you know the sender, and check with the sender if you’re not sure about an attachment.

- Use chat rooms that have moderators. You can usually tell if a site is moderated when you sign up or enter the chat room. Report incidents of bullying, sexual exploitation or other fraud to the chat room moderator straight away.

- Make sure your personal information is protected. Read a site’s privacy statement before you give out any personal information or download software. Check for signs that the Web site protects sensitive data; look for “https” in the Web address and for a yellow padlock or an unbroken key in the lower-right corner.

- Use strong passwords. Strong passwords have at least eight characters; include letters, numbers, and symbols; and are easy for you to remember but tough for others to guess. Protect your passwords, and change them regularly.

- Keep your computer current A computer that’s up-to-date is far more likely to be secure. Use a firewall and install antivirus software. You can find a selection of antivirus software providers reviewed at: http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/index.html
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