The average American spends 23 hours online.  This is ten times more than what the average American spends exercising or participating in sports or fitness activities!

Much of this time online is spent sharing pictures or other information or news about our lives, looking at pictures, visiting websites, and just generally surfing the web.

Cyber crimes come in a variety of forms, including identity theft, fraud, and viruses.  But there simple steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.  Simply take a minute to read and implement these important steps online:

  1. Set strong passwords, change them regularly, and don't share them with others.
  2. Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
  3. Use privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information you post online.
  4.  Be cautious about offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  5. Only make purchases on trusted sites.  When making purchases online stick to well-known online retailers, or smaller sites that use reputable payment systems like PayPal or Google Checkout.
  6. Order your credit Report atleast once a year.  If your purse or wallet have been stolen order it immediately.  To get a free report, visit annual creditreport.com or call 877-322-8228 toll-free.
  7. If you have a wireless network at home or work, make sure that you secure it. A hacker can gain access to anything you do over an unsecured network in a matter of seconds.
  8. Don’t ever put your private information on public computers.  Make sure that your email passwords have not been saved by the browser.

  9. Use a "real" password for all your online accounts.  You should use a "strong" random combination of letters, numbers and symbols for the most protection.
  10. If you've been hacked, file a report with your hometown police department and notify New York State Attorney General's Internet Bureau.