Phishing is sending fraudulent emails, phone calls or websites by manipulating the unsuspecting users that it is from a reputable company or a legitimate organization.

Emails and sites are crafted to entice the users to click on the links by offering prizes, tricking them with relevant information or even threatening them. Those links may contain a malicious virus, install hazardous software or may steal personal information from your device like username-passwords, etc.

Spam is flooding the Internet with the same message sent to millions. The majority of spam is commercial advertising for products that might seem rather suspicious. They want you to buy their dubious wares, access their dubious sites, or just forward their message to others. It is different than phishing where it is not targeted or trying to get information from you.

As you will learn throughout your training, there are several ways of identifying a phishing email:

• Spelling and grammar mistakes: Emails from legitimate companies don't usually have spelling or grammar mistakes.

• False credentials: Don't trust an email just because the name displayed matches a trustworthy organization, check the senders email address. Sometimes they are similar to, but not the same as a company's official email address. For example: important@google.com isn't an official email from Google. If you're ever unsure about the legitimacy of an email with a company you may use regularly, go directly to the companies website and conduct your business there.

• Legitimate business practices: No legitimate business will ask for anything confidential over email. This includes providing your password or social security number

• Malicious links: Never click on a link without first hovering over it to see where it is taking you. Phishers use misleading domains that at first glance look genuine. For example: google.com.xyz.com has Google in it, but really would take you to xyz.com which could be malicious. Link manipulation techniques also include misspelled urls (banksofamerica.com) or "typosquatting" (trustedbank.com instead of trusted-bank.com).

• Reliance on Coincidence: If you weren't expecting it, don't click on it.

These days, computer security is very important. Locking your computer while you're away will help protect confidential documents, emails, student information and grades from getting into the wrong hands.

Mac:

One of the easiest ways to lock your screen is by going through the menu bar. Navigate your cursor to the Apple logo in the top left of your screen, from the drop down menu choose 'Lock Screen'.

Another easy way to lock your screen using your keyboard is by holding down command, control and Q at the same time.

Chromebook:

Choose one of the following options:

• On a keyboard: Press Search + L. Or press Launcher + L.

• At the bottom right of your screen, select the time. Select Lock .

• Hold the power button for a second or so until the option appears on your screen to lock it.

Malware is any file or a malicious code designed to cause damage to a user’s personal computer and network. It can control data and resources, cause error, destroy system and slow down the performance.

Ransomware is a form of malware designed to block access from system until a ransom fee is paid. It provides profit to the ransomware programmers by getting money from user for unlocking the system.

The key to your online security is to have strong passwords. If your data is compromised, weak passwords can have serious consequences, like identity theft.

1. Avoid common words and character combinations in your password. Avoid using your name, nickname, children or pet's name, or anything associated with you, especially if they could find that information on social media.

2. Longer passwords are better: 8 characters is a starting point. Although Google recommends 12. Make sure numbers and symbols are included.

3. Use numbers in place of letters.

4. Make your password unique. Avoid using the same password on multiple accounts like your online banking and your email.

5. If you struggle to remember passwords, try using a phrase you're familiar with and incorporating shortcut codes or acronyms. For example:

4Scor3&7yrsAgo (Four score and seven years ago - from the Gettysburg Address)

iabiapis1980# (it's a bird, it's a plane, it's superman)

1. On your computer, open Chrome

2. At the top right, look at More (The three stacked dots)

3. Click Help > About Chrome

This will check if you are using the latest version of Chrome.

1. At the bottom right, select the time.

2. Select Settings .

3. At the bottom of the left panel, select About Chrome OS.

4. Under "Google Chrome OS," you'll find which version of the Chrome operating system your Chromebook uses.

5. Select Check for updates.

6. If your Chromebook finds a software update, it will start to download automatically.

After the update downloads, it may ask you to restart your Chromebook to apply the updates.

The most important reason to keep your browser up-to-date is to keep your computer safe and secure, protecting you from identity theft, phishing attacks, viruses, trojans, spyware, adware, and other sorts of malware. Many browser updates are issued to combat just these problems.