Safer Internet Day, held annually in February, raises awareness of online safety and dangers. Though the internet offers many benefits, it also creates opportunities for criminals to reach unsuspecting victims in new ways, using tricks which make crimes difficult to recognize. Education can help prevent internet scams and crimes. Pasco Sheriff’s Office is sharing tips to help you stay safe when connecting online.

Protecting your personal information is one of the most effective ways to avoid online scams. Start by creating strong and unique passwords. Enable multi-factor authentication, if available, for extra protection. Encrypting your home Wi-Fi networks and adding a guest network adds extra security to hide your information from potential hackers. Conduct purchases from web addresses starting with “HTTPS” to ensure they’re secure. Shut down your computer when not in use, to ensure no one can gain unauthorized access to it.

Complete all available updates for your computers, operating systems and browsers. Use antivirus programs to detect malicious software and prevent damage to files or devices. Never open emails or attachments from someone you don’t know or aren’t expecting, and be especially cautious of forwarded attachments. Do not click on online advertisements, as these can be scams to gather your personal information. Recognize signs of email scams, such as a generic greeting, a notice that your account is on hold due to a billing problem or an invitation to click a link to update information. Legitimate companies will not email or text a link requesting payment information or demand specific payment forms, such as gift cards.