Jason S. Miyares
Attorney General of Virginia

Cyber Tips

  • Report cyberbulling to the proper authorities.
  • Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters when creating a password.
  • Never meet someone you have met online or while gaming in person.
  • Install and maintain antivirus software on your computer.
  • Avoid keeping multiple tabs in your web browser open for long periods of time to prevent “tabnabbing.”
  • Set the privacy settings on your social-networking page to the most-restrictive setting.
  • If you have children who use a home computer, keep the computer in a main area of the house.
  • Use an avatar, rather than an actual picture of yourself, on your social-networking page.
  • Secure the wireless connection in your home or business with a unique password.
  • Do not use your primary email address for online submissions.
  • Monitor your children’s online activity, including which websites they visit and with whom they interact in blogs, chat rooms, or social-networking sites.
  • Disable Bluetooth technology when you are not using it.
  • Limit the use of cookies in your web browser.
  • Keep gaming consoles in an area that is easy to supervise.
  • Regularly scan your computer for spyware.
  • Set your web browser to block pop-ups.
  • Install parental controls on your web browser.
  • Configure your operating system to update automatically.
  • Use strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed.
  • Use caution in deciding which third-party applications to enable on your social- networking page.
  • Set your privacy settings on your social-networking page to require a last name or email address for all friend requests.
  • Limit the amount of information third-party applications can access on your social-networking page.
  • Limit the amount of personal information, such as your address, your school, or your schedule or routine, you post online.
  • Use email filters to reduce the amount of SPAM you receive.
  • Pay attention to a website’s URL to ensure it is authentic before transmitting personal information.
  • Use the Bcc: function in your email software when sending an email to a large group to protect your recipients’ email addresses.
  • Use different passwords on different computer systems.
  • Establish a secondary email address to use when shopping online, subscribing to online services, or posting to a web forum, blog, or social-networking site.
  • Disable the automatic downloading of graphics in HTML mail.
  • Save and scan attachments for malware before opening them, particularly if you cannot readily identify the attachment’s source.
  • Encrypt data transferred via a wireless network.
  • Uninstall any unused software programs from your computer.
  • Devote one credit card with a minimum credit line to online purchases.
  • Talk to your children about Internet safety and let them know they can come to you about any questions or concerns about behaviors or problems they encounter online.
  • Know that, once you hit “send” on an email or text message, you cannot control where it may travel.
  • Do not advertise that you are away from home online.
  • Do not use a word that can be found in a dictionary of any language as your password.
  • Do not follow links in SPAM messages.
  • Exercise caution in deciding which websites to visit.
  • Know that, once you publish something online, it is there forever.
  • Place a privacy screen on your mobile device to prevent onlookers from reading information over your shoulder.
  • Install a firewall on your computer and wireless devices.
  • When using Bluetooth technology, ensure that it is in “hidden” mode.
  • Do not plug an unknown USB drive into your computer.
  • Do not leave your laptop or mobile device unattended in public or easily accessible areas.
  • Document cyberbullying by keeping electronic or hard copies of any text messages, websites, or emails conveying threatening or harassing language.
  • Consider storing important data on recordable media other than your laptop or mobile device.
  • Be wary of emails requesting personal information.
  • Prevent identity theft by doing business only with reputable companies, protecting your personal information, and staying aware of your account activity.
  • Never give out personal information while gaming.
  • Become a “friend” of your child’s social-networking page.