Password Basics & Account Safety
You should never use this personal information in your password, even though it's easy to remember—like your birthday or your pet's name
What is personal information
If an email asks you to "click here to verify your account" but you didn't request it, it's probably this type of scam that sounds like fishing
What is phishing
You should check these regularly on social media to control who can see your posts and personal information
What are privacy settings
When shopping online, make sure the website address starts with these letters to ensure your payment information is protected
What is HTTPS
When you leave your desk, even for a few minutes, you should do this to your computer—it's like locking your car
What is lock your screen (or log out)
This handy tool remembers all your passwords for you, so you only need to remember one master password
What is a password manager
Before clicking any link in an email, you should do this first—like looking both ways before crossing the street
What is hover over it (to see where it really goes)
Posting photos of this document on social media is risky because it contains personal information criminals can use
What is your driver's license (or ID card)
This small lock icon in your browser's address bar means the website is secure for entering personal information
What is the security lock (or padlock icon)
You should never leave these items visible in your car or on your desk where others can see sensitive information
What are documents (or papers with confidential information)
A strong password should be at least this many characters long—about the same number of letters in the word "hamburger"
What is 8 characters (or longer)
This red flag in emails includes urgent language like "Act now!" or "Your account will be closed!"—it's trying to make you panic
What is urgent language (or pressure tactics)
Those fun quizzes that ask "What's your superhero name using your first pet's name and street you grew up on?" are actually trying to collect this
What are security question answers
You should only download software from these trusted sources, not from random websites that pop up
What are official websites (or app stores)
If you find this item in a parking lot or lobby, don't plug it into your computer—it could contain malware
What is a USB drive (or flash drive)
When you get a text with a code to enter after typing your password, you're using this extra security layer that starts with "two"
What is two-factor authentication (or 2FA)
If you receive a suspicious email at work, you should do this right away to help protect your company
Use the Phish Alert Button in Outlook
You should be careful about posting these online because they can tell criminals when you're not home
What are vacation photos (or travel plans)
If a deal online seems too good to be true—like a $2000 laptop for $200—it probably is this
What is a scam
When working from home, make sure to use this type of internet connection instead of public Wi-Fi for work tasks
What is a secure/private network (or your home Wi-Fi)
You should do this immediately if you think someone else knows your password—it's like changing the locks on your house
What is change your password
These email attachments are especially risky and you should never open them unless you're expecting them—they often end in .exe or .zip
What are unexpected attachments
Before accepting friend requests from people you don't know, you should do this first—it's like checking who's at your door before opening it
What is verify who they are
These annoying pop-ups that say "You've won!" or "Your computer is infected!" are trying to trick you into doing this
What is clicking on them (or downloading malware)
Before throwing away old computers or phones, you should do this to protect your personal information
What is wipe/erase all data