| Do you use email? Online bill payment? Look at | | | | anyone, including family or friends. Protect |
| your brokerage account online? Utilize a wireless | | | | Yourself from Phishing Scams: "Phishing" is the |
| network at home, work or while traveling? In an | | | | mass e-mailing of messages that falsely claim to |
| effort to protect your personal and financial | | | | come from a legitimate business. These |
| information, consider the following items. | | | | messages often provide links to phony web sites, |
| Get Up-to-Date Anti-Virus Software: Up-to-date | | | | where you are asked to supply personal |
| anti-virus software protects your computer | | | | information such as passwords, credit card, social |
| against current virus threats. Most commercially | | | | security number or bank account numbers. Never |
| available virus protection programs offer | | | | enter personal information unless you are sure |
| automatic weekly and emergency downloads of | | | | the website is legitimate. You should also be |
| the latest updates. Scan all your files for viruses | | | | certain the site is encrypted. Look for the letter |
| at least once per month. For the best protection, | | | | "s" at the end of "https" at the beginning of the |
| however, set up your anti-virus software to scan | | | | URL address. This ensures that the site is running |
| every file you open. | | | | in secure mode. |
| Get Up-to-Date Anti-Spyware Software: Spyware | | | | How to Recognize Phishing E-Mail: Phishing |
| runs on your computer and can gather private | | | | messages have evolved drastically over the last |
| information such as passwords and credit card | | | | year, and they are often difficult to recognize. |
| numbers, deliver unwanted advertising, and | | | | The creators now incorporate realistic company |
| monitor your browsing patterns. Spyware is | | | | logos and graphics, provide links to the real |
| typically hidden in an otherwise harmless program, | | | | company's privacy policies, and even include "legal |
| often in freeware or shareware you download. | | | | disclaimer language" at the bottom. To help |
| Before downloading any free software, make | | | | determine if an e-mail is part of a phishing scam, |
| sure you know and trust the provider. Some | | | | ask yourself the following: |
| Internet Service Providers ("ISP's") offer | | | | Do I have a relationship with this company? |
| assistance in finding and removing spyware. The | | | | Would I expect this company to contact me this |
| maker of your anti-virus software may also offer | | | | way? |
| anti-spyware protection. Make sure you are | | | | Would I expect this company to use this tone or |
| protected against this growing threat. | | | | make this request? |
| Use a Personal Firewall: Firewalls serve as | | | | (If you are at all unsure, contact the company by |
| protective barriers between your computer and | | | | phone.) |
| the Internet, preventing unauthorized access to | | | | Don't Open Unexpected E-Mail: Be cautious of |
| your computer when you're online. Be sure to set | | | | e-mail and attachments -- even if they look like |
| up a firewall around your computer. Some ISP's | | | | they're from a friend -- unless you are expecting |
| offer firewall software to their customers and | | | | them or know what they contain. |
| you can buy firewall software or hardware at | | | | Don't E-Mail Personal or Financial Data: Most e-mail |
| your local computer store. | | | | is not secure or encrypted and should not be |
| Install Security Updates Regularly: Most major | | | | trusted to send personal or financial information. |
| software companies regularly release updates or | | | | Protect Your Personal Information: A few simple |
| patches to their operating systems to repair | | | | steps make a tremendous difference. For |
| security problems. Some websites, such as | | | | example, shred sensitive documents instead of |
| Microsoft and Apple, offer the ability to scan your | | | | simply throwing them away. Also, be absolutely |
| computer for missing updates. Check your | | | | sure you know who you're dealing with before |
| computer for missing updates at least monthly. | | | | giving any personal or financial information. |
| For the best protection, set up your computer to | | | | OnGuard Online, a site created by the U.S. Federal |
| receive updates automatically whenever possible. | | | | Trade Commission (FTC), offers additional |
| Protect Your Wireless Home Network: The | | | | information on preventing identity theft. |
| default configuration of most wireless home | | | | Avoid Using Your Social Security Number: Ask |
| networks is not secure. Contact your wireless | | | | companies and government agencies you do |
| software vendor for specific information about | | | | business with if you can create an alternate |
| enabling encryption and strengthening the overall | | | | customer identifier. |
| security of your wireless home network. | | | | Monitor Your Financial Statements: Promptly read |
| Exercise Caution with Wireless Hotspots: Taking a | | | | any account or credit card statements or |
| few simple precautions when using wireless | | | | correspondence when they arrive. Make sure |
| hotspots can help protect your computer. | | | | there are no changes or transactions you did not |
| Wireless technologies are continuously changing. | | | | initiate. If a bill arrives unusually late or not all, call |
| Consult the manufacturer of your network | | | | the company. Also, be sure to monitor your |
| hardware to ensure you have the most | | | | credit for inaccuracies. As of September 1, 2005, |
| up-to-date security technology...then, install a | | | | all US residents are entitled to receive one free |
| firewall on all network computers, disable wireless | | | | credit report every 12 months from each of the |
| connectivity when not in use, use reputable | | | | three nationwide consumer credit reporting |
| encryption software and disable the wireless ad | | | | agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You |
| hoc mode. This will allow only wireless networks | | | | can request your report at Identity theft warning |
| that you created to use your wireless software. | | | | signs include: |
| If you are unsure of the security of a wireless | | | | Seeing unauthorized charges or withdrawals, not |
| hotspot, don't use it for conducting confidential | | | | receiving renewed credit cards, bills, or other mail, |
| business, such as accessing your work e-mail or | | | | receiving credit cards for which you did not apply, |
| financial information. | | | | notices for changes you did not initiate and denials |
| Protect Your Passwords: Make your passwords | | | | of credit for no apparent reason. Although it could |
| as obscure or abstract as possible. Avoid obvious | | | | be a simple error, never assume a mistake has |
| numbers and words, such as a maiden name, | | | | been made that will automatically be corrected. |
| birth date, or an anniversary, which would be | | | | Follow up with the business or institution. |
| easy to guess. Never divulge your passwords to | | | | |