security

phishing

privacy

identity theft

In addition to protecting yourself against e-mail and online fraud, you should be aware of the danger of online viruses that could damage or compromise the security of your computer.

• Anti-virus protection.  If your computer becomes infected with a virus, you could possibly lose information and incur repair expenses.  Make sure your computer has an anti-virus protection program installed to reduce the risk of your computer becoming infected.
   

• Automatic Upgrades.  We recommend that you purchase a program that automatically upgrades or updates your virus protection on a recurring basis.  If you do not have this automatic upgrade or update feature, make sure you update your virus detection program frequent basis.
   

• Automatic Updates.  Be sure to review and install all security patches and operating system updates that are available to ensure the highest level of security.  Checking for software updates for programs such as a your web browser should also be completed on a recurring basis.
   

• Attachments.  We advise you not to open attachments, compact disks, or diskettes unless you are certain that you can trust the source.  Learn how to manually screen diskettes and attachments if your anti-virus software does not automatically screen for viruses.
   

• Contact your ISP.  Your Internet service provider (ISP) may have additional recommendations and technical support for protecting yourself against online viruses, e-mail fraud and spam.  We suggest that you contact your ISP for recommendations specific to your computer and home network.