Networks carry all the information, so in addition to being the usual means of access for attackers, they are also a good place to obtain information without having to access the sources of the information.

Follow this guide to apply the basic security recommendations and prevent information theft.

Care in your Banking Transactions

• Do not enter the card number on pages with sexual or pornographic content, where it is requested as a pretext to verify the age of majority.
• Do not enter the card number on unknown or suspicious pages.
• Do not register more personal data than necessary.
• When sending information, check that a yellow padlock or a closed padlock appears at the bottom of the Explorer browser, this indicates that your data is traveling encrypted.

Email

• Take care of your email address and password:
  • Passwords must be complex enough that an attacker cannot deduce them through computer programs.
  • The use of digital certificates improves security compared to the simple use of passwords.
  • Keep your password updated with at least 8 characters, alternating letters and numbers.
  • Never give or write down your password in sight of third parties.
  • Do not leave the address on any website.
  • Avoid using software or other options, so that you do not have to type your password the next time you have access to the same site from the same computer.
• Do not respond to advertising messages.
• Do not respond to or forward chain emails, almost all are malicious.
• Do not send emails with the addresses in the “CC” (Carbon Copy) field, instead use “BCC” (Blind Carbon Copy), so that they are not displayed and cannot be used by others.
• Delete any message that comes from an unknown recipient.
• Delete any message that arrives from a known contact but contains an unusual header or text.
• Do not enter the card number on pages with sexual or pornographic content, where it is requested as a pretext to verify the age of majority.
• Do not enter the card number on unknown or suspicious pages.
• Do not register more personal data than necessary.
• When sending information, check that a yellow padlock or a closed padlock appears at the bottom of the Explorer browser, this indicates that your data is traveling encrypted.
• Let's check Windows and Office update to be up to date with security flaw updates. We can configure our security updates to be automatic. Let's check that we have all the necessary service packs for your computer.
• Let's install a personal firewall, there are some free options.
• Install a Spyware blocker and keep it updated.
• Let's disable the Windows Messenger service. We can do this by going to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services / find Messenger and right-click, program the disabled start. And click on stop, anyway our firewall should block it by default.
• Always use passwords and change them periodically, these must have at least 7 characters and must include symbols, numbers and letters, this will make it more difficult to decipher, by methods such as brute force. We can also take the precaution of not saving passwords in our browser, which can be very convenient when accessing email accounts, for example, but which can be used by a virus to self-send using our mail. If we want to do it, we can do it in IE Tools / Internet Options / Content / Autocomplete: we select the first three boxes and give it delete in Forms and in Passwords.
• If you use Outlook or Outlook Express, use the current versions or look for updates in Office Update.
• Let's verify that our antivirus is configured to check incoming and outgoing mail.
• Let's always use an antivirus, there are free versions, keep it updated or configure it so that both the program and the virus database are updated automatically. We can use some free online scanning services
• If you have a wireless network, activate all available security options, use MAC filtering and use passwords, do not worry about the length or remembering it, since our wireless Router and PC are made to store the configurations. If we are going to buy a wireless network adapter, let's make sure it is a router and not just an Access point.
• You can subscribe to a reputable computer security mailing list, or we can visit pages like www.avast.com
• Let's not accept emails from people we don't know, let's not open them, let's delete them at once. We can use programs like Mail Washer to check mail more securely.
• Let's not download “Free stuff”, screen savers, games, images, let's keep in mind that in this world nothing is free and many of these gifts bring hidden surprises, such as Spy programs.

Online Services

• Always log out of Online Services when you have finished performing your operations. Pay attention to the URL of the website you visit. Malicious websites may look identical to legitimate sites, but the URL may have variations or a different domain name.
• Do not fill out forms that request personal data on untrustworthy sites.
• Never send confidential information via email.
• Do not write your email address in discussion lists, chat rooms, instant messaging systems, because these create files that can be accessed via the Web. Make sure the website uses encryption (https://…..).

Computer

• Install a good antivirus on your computer.
• Update your computer's operating system.
• Disable file sharing.

Safe Navigation

Today more than ever it is important that family activities when browsing or consuming content on the Internet are done in a protected and always oriented way.

Basic Recommendations for Parents to Share with Their Child about the Safe Use of the Internet

• Follow the family rules and those established by the Internet service provider.
• Do not share or exchange personal photos.
• Never reveal personal information, such as your address, phone number, or the name or address of the school you go to.
• Use only the username (which does not match the real name) and do not share passwords with anyone (except your parents).
• Do not agree to meet in person anyone you have met online without the consent and/or supervision of a parent.
• Do not respond to threatening messages, emails or text messages.
• Tell a parent (or other trusted adult) if you receive any comments or have a conversation that scares or hurts you.

Basic Recommendations for Parental Supervision

• Spend time online with your child to teach them what is appropriate behavior on the Internet.
• Place the computer in a family-use area of the house where you can supervise your child, rather than in your child's bedroom. Monitor the time your child spends using smartphones or tablets.
• Create a list of “favorites” for your child, with their favorite pages, to facilitate direct access.
• Check the status of your credit card accounts and phone bill for possible unexpected expenses.
• Find out what online protection is offered by your child's school or educational center, their after-school activity center, their friends' homes, or any other place where your child may use a computer without your supervision.
• Take your child seriously if they report online exchanges that make them feel uncomfortable or upset.