Take Charge! - Smart Choices for Your Cox Digital Home

Are You Secure?

Creating Powerful Passwords

The end of the school year typically marks the beginning of summer camps, swimming pools and maybe even a trip to the beach. But are you prepared for those summer days when the kids just want to stay inside, avoid the heat and surf the Internet? Spending time online can be an entertaining and educational way to enrich summer vacation, but that also means this is a good time for parents to make sure computers are safe and secure for the whole family.

To start, every computer in your home should be protected with anti-virus software and a firewall. Most Internet service providers include free security software with your subscription, or you can purchase this “insurance” online or at a local computer store. Once installed, be sure to scan your computer for viruses and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for removing them. Viruses can slow down your computer and even destroy your files. Anti-virus software can keep your computers running smooth for the entire family.

Parents need to be particularly aware of potential online hazards and parental control features can help ensure your children are navigating the online waters safely. With the Cox Security Suite powered by McAfee, for example, parents can restrict their children’s access to specific websites based on content or keywords, or even select specific settings to ensure their kids see only age-appropriate pages and pictures. It’s also a good idea to set up time limits so children don’t spend their entire summer in front of the computer.

Protecting your family online also means protecting your personal information. The easiest way to do this is to use strong passwords on all your online accounts. We live in a world protected by passwords but it’s often difficult to keep up with them all, making it tempting to use a simple, easy-to-identify password on all your accounts. But you never want your password to get into the hands of an identity thief. Here are a few tips to help you create a strong online password:

• Never use the word “password” as your password. Create something that is meaningful to you and easy to remember, but not obvious to anyone else.


• Avoid spelling out words as you would find them in the dictionary. Use phonetics to spell works unconventionally, such as spelling the word “before” as the letter “b” and the number “4.”


• Try to memorize your password, but if you need to write it down, keep it in your wallet. Don’t post your password on or near your computer.

Thieves have also come up with other clever ways to steal your personal information. One of the most common online scams is called “phishing.” That’s when someone sends an e-mail that appears to be from a legitimate business, such as your bank or credit card company, asking you to respond with personal information (account numbers, credit card numbers, birth dates, etc). The thief hopes to use your personal information to steal your identity. Simply delete any e-mail message that asks for your personal information. If you question whether the e-mail is legitimate, you can always call the company and ask about the email in question.

For more information about how you can keep your family safe online during the summer and throughout the year, you can access a complete resource guide online at www.cox.com/takecharge.