One of the major risks of using the Internet today is that someone might obtain and use your personal information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information, with malicious motives. Because of this security risk, we recommend that you take the following precautions.
Be Cautious About Sites Requesting Personal Information
When you come across a Web site that requests personal information, read the privacy policy and pay close attention to any paragraphs discussing how your information will be used. Avoid using sites that do not provide a privacy statement.
When filling out a form online, it is a good practice to fill in only required fields. Also, watch for checked boxes on a form indicating your desire to receive updates from a Web site. Many sites use this technique to sign up inattentive users for e-mail newsletters and other forms of spam. Unless you want to receive updates, make sure these boxes are unchecked.
Never send sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or pin numbers, through the Internet unless you are sure it is safe to do so.
Use Secure Sites for Making Online Purchases
The closed lock icon shows that you are on a secure site.
Making purchases on the Internet is not always secure. You should confirm that you are on a secure site before sending credit card information or other purchasing information.
Make sure that the URL of the page asking for purchasing information starts with https:// instead of http:// (HTTPS is a protocol for secure transactions). Most Web browsers also display a small closed lock or key icon on the bottom bar if you are on a secure site. Click on the icon for more details about the page you are viewing.
Use Privacy Tools
There are several Internet services available that can encrypt your e-mail, block cookies, and help you safely use the Internet. A list of services is provided at the Electronic Privacy Information Center
.