Frequently Asked Questions: Security Control

The video below provides a useful service tip on internet safety, security control, and recognizing scams.

Make sure to log out of your account when it is not in use. Do not leave the account up on public computers. Do not share your username and passwords with anyone.

A virus is an attack on your computer that causes errors and can cause your computer to crash. You can prevent viruses by making sure you have anti-virus software loaded onto your computer.

Beware of spam if the subject line contains incorrect URLs, if they ask for banking information, use public Internet accounts, include misspelled words, or if it is not a secure site.

You should delete the spam message immediately. Do not open spam messages because they could cause a virus to attack your computer.

To report deceptive or suspicious spam to the Federal Trade Commission, forward it to spam@uce.gov. The FTC uses the spam stored in this database to pursue law enforcement actions against people who send deceptive email.

Phishing is an attempt by an individual or group to solicit personal information from unsuspecting users by employing social engineering techniques. Phishing emails are crafted to appear as if they have been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual. These emails often attempt to entice users to click on a link that will take the user to a fraudulent web site that appears legitimate. The user then may be asked to provide personal information such as account usernames and passwords that can further expose them to future compromises. Additionally, these fraudulent websites may contain malicious code.

You can report phishing by sending an email to phishing-report@us-cert.gov.