We’ve all seen in the news recent stories of celebrities being hacked and their personal information shared with the world. So how can you stay safe online and keep your personal information out of the hands of the wrong people? Our expert team at Phase 2 has put together some tips for keeping yourself safe online.

• 1. Strong Password

  Have a strong password. Don’t use your birthday or the name of your pets or family members. Longer phrases are best with a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, spaces and symbols if possible.

• 2. Don't Share

  Don’t share your passwords or have the same passwords for multiple accounts.

• 3. Privacy Settings

  Utilize the site’s privacy settings. You can usually limit what others can access on your profile, and you should definitely take advantage of this. It’s a good idea to make personal information only accessible through a connection or “friend request” so you have some control over who can view it. Remember though, even with good privacy settings, it can still be dangerous to post detailed information about yourself and others.

• 4. Strangers

  Don’t connect with people you don’t know.

• 5. Be Skeptical

  Don’t believe everything you read online. Seems like common sense, but sometimes we all need this reminder.

• 6. Stay Aware

  Stay aware. If messages have been sent from your account but not by you, you have probably been hacked. Change your passwords immediately. Reference # 1 above.

• 7. Anti-Virus

  Keep your anti-virus software up to date.

• 8. Suspicious Email

  If someone sends you a suspicious email or link, just delete it without opening. You’re better safe than sorry.

• 9. Identify Theft

  If you think you have been a victim of identity theft, react quickly. Change the passwords to all of your accounts and close or freeze any unauthorized credit cards. File a report with your local law enforcement agency. Usually these criminals have a history of this activity, so the more legal trails that are created, the more likely they will be caught. Contact a credit bureau to place a fraud alert on your report.

• 10. Be Smart

  Be smart. Most cyber security issues can be prevented if you are always careful about what and where you post and click.