Pop-up windows are a common form of online advertising and often appear so quickly that users are caught offguard. However, some pop-ups, when clicked, trigger spyware that can cause serious damage to computers. That's why it's important to never click "agree" or "OK" to close a pop-up window, and only click on the red "X" in the corner or Alt + F4 to close it safely.
With the explosion of Web-based communications in the form of applications, blogs, podcasts, and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, new security threats that can cause serious damage to computers are emerging. As they access these Web-based services from both work and personal computers, many users are unaware that they may be exposing themselves and their organizations to risk.
In this increasingly social and interactive world, organizations must take the necessary steps to strengthen their defenses and protect their online property. While the Internet continues to offer exciting new ways to collaborate more interactively, it is also introducing highly targeted threats to the mix.
Recent data breaches -- such as the Zappos incident early this year, which involved the theft of personalized customer information -- are reminders that both individual users and organizations must have security measures in place to actively protect themselves from the latest cyberthreats.
Following are 12 simple steps to ensure that your personal information is protected online.