Best Living - Community Manager's blog

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I love the internet.  It allows me to connect with friends via email, share photos on Facebook, tweet links to articles I find interesting and purchases products and services all from the comfort of my living room or while I’m on the go with my smart phone.  When browsing and buying online, just like in face-to-face interactions, consumers need to be mindful of guarding their safety.  While the internet is an amazing place, there are also nefarious websites, online scams, computer viruses and spyware.  Here are a few online tips to help you to fully enjoy your online experience.

Passwords: Strength in Random Characters

Create strong passwords for your e-mail, online services and favorite websites.  This means using a combination of numbers, letters and special characters (when allowed) to create your password.  The stronger your password is, the harder it will be for others to guess what it is.  You’ll also want to use different passwords for each site or service.  For suggestions on how to create passwords, check out a recent Geek Squad blog:

http://www.geeksquad.com/intelligence/blog/securing-your-passwords-rnd0m-chract3rs-re-y0ur-fr1end/

Keep Private Information Private

Don’t give your credit card number, social security number, or other personal information to unknown websites or friends.  On social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, make sure your profile only contains information you would share with anyone.  Many sites give users the option of restricting who has access to their profile, so set your account to “private” or “friends only” if you do not want the general public to view your profile.

Phishing Scams

If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Refrain from responding to unfamiliar e-mails, text messages, Facebook status updates and Twitter messages, especially if they advertise free products or other benefits in exchange for personal information.  If you receive a message that appears to be from a company you recognize, contact that company’s customer support hotline to verify whether or not the offer is legitimate.  Remember that reputable companies will never actively solicit you for personal information!

Online scammers target a variety of popular brands.  Recently, the Best Buy brand name was used by a phishing scam that sent text messages to people claiming they were eligible for a $1,000 Best Buy gift card.  This was not a legitimate offer.  Best Buy would never randomly send text messages to customers. If Best Buy is running a contest, sweepstakes or promotion, customers can always check our websites or social platforms like our Facebook, Twitter or Forums to verify the authenticity of the offer.  When in doubt, ask us first before clicking that link!  And remember, like I said before, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, here in Minnesota, the Better Business Bureau maintains a list of recent scams.  If in doubt with any offers you see online, you can check their website to see if they have it listed: http://bit.ly/y9JhzX.

Anti-Virus Protection: Flu Shots for PCs

Be sure to install a reputable, subscription-based antivirus or web security program.  These programs not only protect you from malicious programs, but can also help you identify any that may already exist on your computer.  Kaspersky Antivirus, Trend Micro Internet Security and Norton 360 are excellent examples of such programs and many more are available.  Just keep in mind that more is not necessarily better!  Most antivirus and security programs are designed to be used as stand-alone tools and may not function properly if a second program of the same type is installed or running at the same time.

SSL: Secure Browsing

It’s important to practice safe browsing habits.  When visiting a website, type the address directly into your web browser rather than simply following links.  Don’t provide personal information on sites that don’t display an SSL lock icon in your browser window.  Also, make sure that you’re using the latest version of your web browser.

Well, those are a few ideas to think about to help keep you safe online.  Remember, think twice before you click.  As I always say, safety first!  Happy browsing!