Internet Security Guide: Resources to keep you safe online

The internet doesn't need to be a scary place! While there's certainly a lot of bad stuff that happens online, you can easily protect yourself and browse safely and securely. 

One of the most important things you can do to achieve that safety is to be informed. Check out what we've written on how to keep yourself safe and sound online.

Table of contents

• Internet security and safety basics
• Facebook security
• How to recognize spam and scams
• Mobile security
• Preventing or dealing with loss and theft
• Keeping your kids safe online

Internet security and safety basics

How to surf the internet safely Society today has invested almost everything in a digital future. Whether we like it or not, we're moving toward a world that is entirely digital. For now, if you try really hard, you can still break free of the web; but in a few years, everything will be online. The problem... Read more.
Computer security dictionary It's easy to feel anxious and overwhelmed when talk turns to computer security, especially when ominous terminology like InfoSec and Trojan come into play. Here are some common terms you're apt to run into... Read more.		How to choose powerful passwords Passwords are a required nuisance of the online world, at least until we get chips implanted in our wrists, eyeball scanners, or thumbprint-coded access to our computers — you know, the stuff of sci-fi novels and movies... Read more.
5 things you probably didn't know could be hacked Hackers are making headlines these days like never before. From video game systems to voicemail accounts, it seems like almost every type of electronic device or information storage medium can be... Read more.		How to run a virus scan in Windows 7 Running a virus scan is easy! Let us show you how to use the popular AVG virus scanner in our video guide... Read more.
Keep your passwords safe and hidden Passwords are both your first and your last line of online defense. They are the key to every internet door you might open. Without your password, you can't get into any of your accounts and you can't... Read more.		3 reasons to password-protect your home wifi It's incredibly easy to set up a wifi router in your home. Ongoing maintenance isn't difficult, and it's easy to resolve any problems along the way. With a wifi router properly placed in your home... Read more.
What's the difference between HTTP and HTTPS? HTTPS only appears on certain sites where security is an issue — online banking sites, internet retailers, and some social networks. If it's something that requires a password, it's reassuring to see that the address is secure... Read more.		What is a computer virus? Computer viruses are something you hear about all the time, especially in advertisements about keeping your computer secure — but other than the negative connotation from the name... Read more.
What is malware and how to fight it Malware, or malicious software, is computer code that has been intentionally designed to cause harm or disruption in some way. Malware is a term that encapsulates almost every kind of digital nasty in... Read more.		Spring Cleaning for Your Computer: The essential Windows maintenance list There's more to computer upkeep than just cleaning your monitor and keyboard. Everyone knows you need to perform some sort of maintenance in order to ensure your computer runs smoothly... Read more.
Spybot Search & Destroy kills spyware in its tracks It's imperative that you get rid of spyware, not only for your computer's health but also for your personal privacy... Read more.		What is a cookie? In today's complex and fast-paced world, people want things to be automated. You don't want to have to log in to a website each time you visit, right? While it's nice to have this convenience, it also... Read more.
How to manage third-party cookies Almost everywhere you go online, your browsing habits are tracked and recorded. That is even more true if you have third-party cookies enabled in your browser. One way of keeping your web-browsing... Read more.		Should you be worried about cloud computing security? Hacking has reached such fever pitch that it's now impossible to go a week between pronouncements of yet another high-profile hack. In this year alone, Sony, Citigroup, HBGary, and numerous... Read more.

Facebook security

How to use Facebook's new privacy settings Prefer to stay private on Facebook? Check out our guide for everything you need to know about Facebook privacy settings... Read more.
Facebook stepping up security with outbound link scan Thanks to some new Facebook technology, the links you click should just bit a bit safer... Read more.		How to protect your kids on Facebook Facebook — like it or loathe it, you just can't ignore it. Millions of people use Facebook every day for a myriad of functions, and this includes your kids. While it can be fun to update status... Read more.
A pair of Facebook frauds to avoid They've been designed to appeal to our most basic, narcissistic instincts — Facebook applications that let you know how many people have looked at your profile. One app promises to remind you of... Read more.		Security firm will update your Facebook status so thieves think you're home We all enjoy discussing our vacation plans with our social networking contacts, but when a potential thief gets wind of your extended departure, things can get much less enjoyable. According to... Read more.
Homeland Security to share terror alerts on Twitter and Facebook When it comes to up-to-the-second information, especially emergency information, social networks like Twitter and Facebook reign supreme. Traditional websites and publications just can't spread... Read more.

How to recognize spams and scams online

How to spot the web's top 3 biggest scams Twitter, Facebook, and other online communities are plagued with spambots and other nasties ranging from annoying to downright dangerous. We've rounded up the worst offenders to show you how to stay safe online... Read more.
How to recognize scams in your inbox After a restful little holiday period, I was brought back to earth with a bump and the news that there was a "slight error" in my PayPal billing information.There's just one problem with that: I don't have a PayPal... Read more.		Phishing for Apples When you're trying to recognize whether or not an email is legitimate, one of the things to look for is whether or not the message in your inbox matches the virtual "stationary" of... Read more.
Why aren't my search results what I want them to be? Momentous events such as the death of Osama bin Laden spawn inevitable waves of spam that sweep across the globe. It doesn't take long for scammers to start preying on human nature, slipping fake links... Read more.		How (not) to get rich quick online Over the past few weeks, my inbox has been swamped by a gentleman named Michael who claims that he can make me a large amount of money for a very little amount of effort. The methods vary — he's... Read more.
Fraud of Warcraft This week, I got an unusual email in relation to my World of Warcraft account claiming that my account details had been modified. On the surface, it was a standard-looking email, much like the... Read more.

Staying safe with mobile security

How to turn off location services on your iPhone Your iPhone (3GS and newer) has a built-in GPS chip that allows it to find your location practically anywhere and share it with the apps on your phone. For some, location-based services are great... Read more.
How to protect yourself from phone hackers Personal security is on everyone's mind these days, and no single device likely holds more of your information than your mobile phone... Read more.		How to set a security lock on your Android phone You can easily lock your Android phone so that only those people who know the secret combination can get in... Read more.
How to track a lost or stolen older iPhone If you've lost your iPhone, it's easy to track as long as you've enabled iCloud's tracking service. We'll show you everything you need to know in our video... Read more.		Understanding the Android app permission system Every time you install an app on your Android smartphone, tablet, or media player, you're asked to confirm or deny some sort of permission request. Most people simply push OK — I want my app... Read more.
Apple's iPhone and iPad Tracking: Here's why you shouldn't panic A pair of researchers has revealed a feature on the iPhone or iPad 3G that's captured the fears and imaginations of the internet. Essentially, these devices constantly track you... Read more.		5 ways to keep track of your kids digitally Kids are getting smartphones at a younger and younger age. While some people may look at this as a new challenge for 21st-century parenting, others embrace this technology. After all, when has it ever been so easy to keep tabs on kids... Read more.
The most common iPhone passcode is 1234 iPhone owners might pride themselves with having one of the most technologically advanced smartphones on the market, but according to iOS developer Daniel Amitay, their passcodes are decidedly less... Read more.		New emergency alerts will hit your phone when danger looms The Federal Communications Commission announced today that it will roll out a new emergency alert program targeted at cell phones. It's called the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN), and it... Read more.
Android sees nearly 500% increase in malware since July Google's Android platform sees new devices join its ranks on a regular basis. This widespread adoption of the operating system has allowed it to claim a huge share of the smartphone market, but it also... Read more.

Preventing or dealing with loss and theft

What to do when your password has been stolen It's a horrible feeling. Maybe you received an unobtrusive order notification in your inbox from Amazon or iTunes. Perhaps you logged into your bank or credit card's website to check something, only to find.... Read more.
What to do if your mobile device gets lost or stolen There's nothing scarier than getting home after a day at work or on the road and realizing that you've lost your mobile device. Whether it is your notebook, smartphone, or your new iPad 2, a stolen... Read more.		How to find your lost iPad using GPS Maybe you misplaced it or maybe it was stolen — either way, you want to find your lost iPad. What can you do? With the latest iOS update, Apple has provided a free solution called Find my... Read more.
What to do when your luggage goes missing Waiting at the luggage carousel is never the most enjoyable experience, and the longer you're standing there, the less fun it gets. What if yours doesn't show up with the rest of the bunch?... Read more.		GadgetTrak tracks stolen laptops, phones without breaking the bank With the proliferation of mobile computing devices, computer security has become more important than ever before. What is more valuable, your laptop or the information that is on it?... Read more.

Keeping your kids safe online

How to keep an eye on your kids' web habits Whether they're doing homework research or just goofing off, kids are on the internet more than ever before. In addition to great educational resources, they're finding games and even social... Read more.
Kid-friendly internet browsers How can busy parents make sure their children aren't exposed to the worst of the web — even when they can't be right there, policing kids' every online move?... Read more.		Teach your kids to avoid fraud With so many transactions happening online these days, it's more important than ever to keep your financial details safe. Obviously, keeping an eye out for secure transactions is a good start... Read more.
How to protect your kids on Facebook Facebook: Like it or loathe it, you just can't ignore it. Millions of people use Facebook every day for a myriad of functions, including your kids. While it can be fun to update status... Read more.		5 ways to keep track of your kids digitally Kids are getting smartphones at a younger and younger age. While some people may look at this as a new challenge for 21st-century parenting, others embrace this technology. After all, when has it ever been so easy to keep tabs on kids.... Read more.
Tech-Savvy Mom: Video game ratings explained According to a recent study, the average American child plays video games for nearly eight hours a week in total. Most of their parents don't bother to check the ratings on their games... Read more.		How to set up parental controls on the Xbox 360 If you want to be sure that your kids are protected on the Xbox 360, including restricting them from talking to others online, follow our video guide to parental controls... Read more.
How to set up parental controls on the Nintendo 3DS The Nintendo 3DS is great fun for kids (and adults!), but it includes online communication options you might not want your kids to take advantage of... Read more.

Leave a comment