CONSUMERS EMPOWERED.ORG

1. The name of your wireless network can always be seen by people who are close enough to receive your signal.

Wrong! You can and should choose in your setup to hide the name of your network (known as the SSID) so no one will see it.

Correct! You can choose in your setup to hide the name of your network (known as the SSID) so no one will see it.

2. A strong password includes all of the following: upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers and special characters such as exclamation point, pound sign or dollar sign.

Right! Although not all websites will allow special characters, using a combination of these different types of characters makes your passwords harder to guess by hackers.

Wrong! Although not all websites will allow special characters, using a combination of these different types of characters makes your passwords harder to guess by hackers.

3. A virus can infect your computer even if you just visit an infected website.

Correct! You do not have to click on a box or start a program in order to have a virus infect your computer.

Wrong! You do not have to click on a box or start a program in order to have a virus infect your computer.

4. It is not necessary to update your antivirus software.

Wrong! You should update your antivirus software on a regular basis, automatically if possible.

Correct! You should update your antivirus software on a regular basis, automatically if possible.

5. In 2009, the total dollars lost to online fraud was over $555,000,000.

Correct! According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, the total dollars lost to online fraud in 2009 was $559,700,000 based on 336,655 complaints received by the Center

Wrong! According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, the total dollars lost to online fraud in 2009 was $559,700,000 based on 336,655 complaints received by the Center.

6. If you delete an email, no one will be able to retrieve that email from your computer.

Wrong! Deleted emails, documents and other files are generally available in a hidden area on your computer; and, even if they are in multiple pieces on your hard drive, a skilled person can reassemble the files.

Correct! Deleted emails, documents and other files are generally available in a hidden area on your computer; and, even if they are in multiple pieces on your hard drive, a skilled person can reassemble the files.

7. If your computer begins to act strangely and you suspect that it has been infected with a virus, you should not reboot it.

Correct! Restarting your computer can make it worse. You should first disconnect your computer from the network, either by turning off your wireless connection or by carefully pulling out the Ethernet cord, if it connected that way. Then contact a trusted friend or technician who can advise you of the appropriate next steps, which may include a virus scan, while the computer is running.

Wrong! Restarting your computer can make it worse. You should first disconnect your computer from the network, either by turning off your wireless connection or by carefully pulling out the Ethernet cord, if it connected that way. Then contact a trusted friend or technician who can advise you of the appropriate next steps, which may include a virus scan, while the computer is running.

8. Bots, Trojan horses, spyware and malware and are all names of things that can attack your computer.

Correct!

Wrong!

9. A firewall is necessary even if an anti-virus program is installed on your computer.

Correct! A firewall is necessary to keep other computers on the Internet from accessing your computer.

Wrong! A firewall is necessary to keep other computers on the Internet from accessing your computer.

10. Turning your computer off when you are not using it is a good security idea.

You are right! Hackers probe networks for unsecured computers which are continuously on and not active as they search for those with outdated virus protection and insufficient firewalls.

Sorry, but you are wrong! Hackers probe networks for unsecured computers which are continuously on and not active as they search for those with outdated virus protection and insufficient firewalls.