Google Good to Know A guide to staying safe and secure online - Manual (Page 3)

Secure your passwords
Passwords are the first line of defense against cyber criminals. It’s crucial to
pick strong passwords that are different for each of your important accounts
and it is good practice to update your passwords regularly. Follow these tips
to create strong passwords and keep them secure.
1. Use a unique password for each of your important accounts like email and
online banking.
2. Use a long password made up of numbers, letters and symbols.
3. Many services will send an email to you at a recovery email address if you
need to reset your password, so make sure your recovery email address
is up-to-date and an account you can still access.
Prevent identify theft
Just as you wouldn’t give a burglar the key to your house, make sure to protect
yourself from fraud and online identity theft. Know the common tricks that
criminals employ to help you protect yourself from online fraud and identity
theft. Here are a few simple tips.
1. Don’t reply if you see a suspicious email, instant message or webpage
asking for your personal or financial information.
2. Never enter your password if you’ve arrived at a site by following a link
in an email or chat that you don’t trust.
3. Don’t send your password via email, and don’t share it with others.
One idea is to think of a phrase that only
you know, and make it be related to a
particular website to help you remember
it. For your email you could start with “My
friends Tom and Jasmine send me a funny
email once a day” and then use numbers
and letters to recreate it. “MfT&Jsmafe1ad”
is a password with lots of variations. Then
repeat this process for other sites.
If you see a message from someone you know that doesn’t seem
like them, their account may have been compromised by a cyber
criminal who is trying to get money or information from you – so
be careful how you respond. Common tactics include asking you
to urgently send them money, claiming to be stranded in another
country or saying that their phone has been stolen so they cannot
be called. The message may also tell you to click on a link to see
a picture, article or video, which actually leads you to a site that
might steal your information – so think before you click!