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Security is all about, YOU!!

When we talk about security, it is more than virus scanning. It is more than changing your password, and it is more than never revealing your personal information online. The reality of security is how you start your computer. Simple security measures you can take include backing up your computer to a hard drive and keeping that hard drive offline.  But security is more than merely having things offline. Having all your files offline, with a trip that is turned off, allows you protection for your data. But overall, you are still at risk. There are several things you can do. However, that will help you. Let’s talk about the things you can do at home to be safer online?

The first thing is a rule my grandfather taught me many years ago before there was an internet, but it still applies! If it looks too good, it probably is. So, if you get an email that offers you millions of dollars, the likelihood is that email isn’t valid. Most companies or organizations that intend to give you millions of dollars are going to either call you on the telephone, possibly today have a zoom or video call, or have an in-person meeting before you get that money! So it isn’t likely that an email from someone you don’t know is the Wonka Golden ticket! There are many other things to consider beyond the long-discussed SPAM email, most of us have gotten at least one.

Never publish your birthday online. Ever. The security combinations people need to consider is the PII or personally identifiable information, and we need to make sure that we don’t reveal that information. Anything you use when asked for secret questions are the data pieces you should never share. This includes the following information.

PII Includes

  • Birthday (full day, month and year)
  • Birthplace (a city-state in the US, city country in other parts of the world)
  • Your other maiden name
  • Your first pets name

All of these things should never be online. It becomes effortless for someone to exploit you by only having that information. I haven’t even gone into the vast numbers to avoid ever sharing (your national identification number, in the US, called your Social Security number). The information you have about you needs to be kept private. That is our security mission.

Copyright DocAndersen. Any resemblance to people unless mentioned by name is purely accidental (unless that person is mentioned explicitly by name.)

  • Question of

    should you share your government identification number online?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    The government (at least in the US) doesn’t call and threaten you, ok?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Did you know your mother’s maiden name was a bit of PII?

    • Yes
    • No

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What do you think?

10 Points

Written by DocAndersen

One fan, One team and a long time dream Go Cubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

24 Comments

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  1. Q: SHOULD YOU SHARE YOUR GOVERNMENT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ONLINE?
    No (4 votes) – 100%
    Q: THE GOVERNMENT (AT LEAST IN THE US) DOESN’T CALL AND THREATEN YOU, OK?
    Yes (2 votes) – 67%
    No (1 votes) – 33%
    Q: DID YOU KNOW YOUR MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME WAS A BIT OF PII?
    No (3 votes) – 100%

    1

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