RTC's Communicator for Spring 2019

SPRING 2019 11 How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams Learn how scammers use fear to try and get you to do what they want Be alert. Know that anything you do online has the potential for danger. That includes many actions that seem innocu- ous, like clicking a link in an email you think was sent from a friend, providing personal information on what looks like a legitimate retailer’s site, or offering login details to a friendly person who calls you to talk about a software upgrade. Trust your gut. If anything looks, sounds, or feels suspicious, take a step back and think before you act. For example, if you get a Facebook invitation from someone you’re already friends with, check with them through another channel (such as text message or email) on whether or not it’s a legitimate request. If someone calls from a company you’ve never heard of to “fix” your perfectly functioning computer, hang up. Ignore random notifications. Flashing notifications saying your computer has a virus and you need to download software immediately to fix it can be alarming. But that’s exactly how they’re designed. Don’t trust pop-ups or other notifications from unknown sources. If you’re genuinely concerned there’s a problem with your computer, run a virus scan or take it to a professional who can help. Protect your personal data. Be very wary about any requests for personal informa- tion such as your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, or passwords. Practice cyber-hygiene. Just as you brush your teeth, get a good night’s sleep, and exercise to stay healthy, you need to perform certain tasks to ensure your online health is maintained. They include always using strong passwords and keep- ing them secret, installing and updating security software, backing up content, and not using Wi-Fi in public places for sensitive transactions (such as banking). Secure your social media. All social media applications have security and pri- vacy settings you can adjust. For example, Facebook asks for your email address and phone number, but it’s optional. Sure, it might be a little harder for friends to get in touch with you if you don’t provide these items, but remember that anything that makes you more accessible to friends also makes you more accessible to scammers. Many online scams are successful because victims are uninformed. Don’t let that happen to you. Educate yourself about how scammers operate and methods for defense. The following list is a good place to start. Get More Protection With Tech Home Tech Home Protect Plus is technology made easy — a variety of managed solutions available from RTC to handle your internet security and data storage. They include: SecureIT Plus – Provides real-time protection against viruses, ransom- ware, and a host of other common threats. FileHopper Plus – Lets you back up your most important files and photos with 250 GB of backup space. Password Genie - Stores your pass- words in one secure location and can generate strong passwords for you. You can enjoy the peace of mind of having Tech Home services for as little as $5.95/mo. If you sign up for RTC En- hanced Whole Home Wi-Fi, it includes the Tech Home Protect Plus package at no additional charge. To learn more, visit www.RTC.coop/ internet or call 888.862.3115.