Cyber safety tips

With National Cyber Security Awareness Month in full swing, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance's (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs shares essential tips to help safeguard personal information when online.

"While computers and other Internet-driven devices bring a wealth of convenience, they can also make us vulnerable to identity theft and other cybercrimes," said TDCI Consumer Protection Director Cynthia Wiel. "By taking simple precautions, Tennesseans can strengthen the security of their webenabled devices and help protect their personal information."

The Division of Consumer Affairs encourages consumers to consider the following basic guidelines to enhance cyber security:

• Keep your anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls current. Your security settings and software are critical to keeping computer hackers from gaining access to your computer.

• Don't save personal information including resumes or financial records on your hard drive. Save them to a disk or thumb drive. Ask yourself what a hacker could find out about you if they accessed your stored documents.

• Use passwords or answers to security questions that only you would know. A little research on the Internet can help thieves find the answers to common security questions such as your mother's maiden name. Make up an answer that only you would know.

• Know whom you're dealing with. Don't click on links that are listed in an email to you. Use the web addresses and contact information that you normally would. Thieves often send fraudulent emails known as "spam" in an attempt to gain your personal information.

• Be cautious shopping online. Fraudulent sites exist for the simple purpose of collecting your information. Make sure you can physically locate the business if you experience a problem and that the business has a secure website.

For more consumer resources, or to file a complaint, contact the TDCI Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-342-8385 or visit www.wehelpconsumers.tn.gov.