Cyber Security Awareness Month

by Marilyn Cariola

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and it's a good time to take a hard look at how online behaviors could put you and SLAC in harm's way. You don't have to be a computer genius to protect yourself online and you don't have to spend a lot of money. Here is the first of a series of a computer safety tips.

Protect your personal information. To an identity thief, it can provide instant access to your financial accounts, your credit record and your other personal assets.

Anyone can be a victim of identity theft. According to a Federal Trade Commission survey, there are almost 10 million victims every year. It's often difficult to know how thieves obtained their victims' information. While it definitely can happen offline, many cases start when online data are stolen. Visit the FTC's identity theft Web site to learn what to do if your identity is stolen.

The SLAC computer security group will provide additional tips over the course of the month on the computer security Web page.