Friday, February 10, 2012

FCC, FTC Urge Public To Web Surf Safely

October 9, 2009

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz on Friday urged the public to take steps to protect themselves, their privacy, and their personal information online as part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. "The Internet has connected Americans to each other and the rest of the world like never before. But those connections can also be exploited by scammers, so consumers need to be alert for online fraud and safeguard their personal information," Genachowski said in a press release. "Consumers should stay alert, recognize the potential risks associated with cyber crimes and take some simple precautions to help reduce their chances of falling victim to scams."

Leibowitz noted his Commission is committed to protecting consumers by stopping con artists from committing fraud online, working to preserve the privacy of consumers' sensitive personal information, and educating people on how to use technology safely and securely through sites like OnguardOnline.gov. The FTC is also committed to working with the FCC to promote consumer protection in the online marketplace, he said. Some tips from the chairmen include: Use security software that updates automatically; keep operating systems and Web browsers up-to-date; keep passwords private and secure; always back-up important files.

Join the Discussion

The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.

Comments powered by Disqus

 

Archives

Monthly Archives

Categories

Recent Posts

Recent Comments


Contributors

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.


Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.


Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.