Even though you might be aware of the consequences of being the victim of an online security breach, your kids could be clueless. Chances are, they might have little to lose, because what kid really has a bank account, credit card, or hundreds of documents that could be lost due to a virus or hack? But think about it. Because you probably use the same computer, your child’s actions could be putting all of your personal files at risk. Here are a few things you can do to safeguard the family computer.

1. Brainstorm a hard-to-crack password. A recent news article revealed the easiest passwords to hack — among them “123456,” “Password,” “abc123,” and “Princess.” Ask your kids what their passwords are, and if they seem obvious, come up with a better 6-letter code.

2. Warn them about phishing. Ask if they’ve ever gotten a pop-up message or email asking for their name, address, phone number, or other personal information. If they have or if they do, forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email.

3. Update security software regularly. Hackers take advantage of browsers and operating systems that are behind on security updates.

If you find yourself wondering if your computer has a virus, call A+ Mobile PC Doctors to speak with a technician. We perform on-site computer repair and remote computer repair in Boston and nationally, in addition to offering a laundry list of information technology services. Visit us on the web or call us at (617) 723-1986 today.

Downloading all types of free software
Do not download any and every type of program or application just because it is free. Make sure the source of the software can be trusted. Use the internet to seek advice about the software you want to download and find out about its source.

Opening all e-mail attachments
Do you open all attachments sent with e-mails, even if you do not know the sender of the e-mail? Well, irrespective of whether you know the sender or not, pause before you open an attachment. While Word, Excel, Txt files are almost harmless, other files, when downloaded, could harm your system. Never open a file that has an extension of .exe or .bat. Make sure you scan your attachment for viruses before opening it.

Clicking all kinds of links available in e-mails
E-mails containing advertisements have several links in them. Do not unnecessarily click the links. If the source of the e-mail is not trustworthy, you may end up visiting websites that will harm your computer.

Divulging personal and financial information on websites
These days, several e-mails reach our mailbox asking us to confirm our credit card information, social security number etc on genuine looking websites. However, these websites are fake; they cheat us into revealing important information. This information can be misused later. This type of cheating through fake websites is called phishing. Notify your bank or financial institution if its website has a duplicate cheating people on the internet.

Hitting the OK button on all online pop-ups
Some online pop-ups are difficult to ignore. They may come with a warning that says: Your computer is not secure. Remember, most of the online pop-ups are advertisements, and some of these are malicious. It is better to close such kinds of pop-ups.

Despite taking utmost care of the computer, it falls prey to problems. If computer repair is not your cup of tea, call the mobile computer doctors. Just a call away, these doctors will reach your doorstep in a jiffy.