Update and modify. By now, this should be the standard operating procedure (SOP) of every publisher as well as business owners who operate on the web and even private individuals who have various accounts on the internet.

Similar to the real world, one’s safety online should be of a top priority. It pays to be vigilant and not end up a victim of scams, frauds and identity theft.

Statistics show that internet scam complaints from 2005 to 2009 went up from 100,000 per year to almost 300,000. The top scams include identity theft, FBI-related scams, miscellaneous fraud, advance fee fraud and spam. Most of these scams come from the U.S. (65.9%), the U.K. (10.4%) and China (3.1%).

Each year, the total amount of monetary loss due to these scam complaints is more than $300 million. In 2010, internet users aged 60 and older also reported higher amounts of monetary loss.

With these stats in mind, it’s definitely worth taking the necessary steps to safeguard your online privacy. Google recently marked the Safer Internet Day by redesigning its site called Good to Know. The site provides tips and strategies on web safety including ways to make computers and mobile devices properly secured.

Google reports that they are able to determine unsafe websites that number more than 10,000 every day and they inform internet users about them by showing warnings on Google search results as well as on downloads. The warning normally tells people about a suspicious site or link.

Due to these threats online, the search giant stresses the importance of creating long and unique passwords and not sharing them to anyone and via email, setting password recovery options, reporting and flagging content, checking privacy settings and updating browsers and operating systems.

If you are able to do these steps regularly, then you’re on the right track to a private and secure online presence.

Photo via sefiani

Originally posted on February 8, 2013 @ 9:37 pm