Is it safe to play poker online?

Tips and tricks to keep your personal information personal

Is it Safe to Play Poker Online?

The short answer is: It can be safe. Like any other online or real life transaction, you have to take steps to protect yourself. You don't leave your keys in your front door or write your pin number in permenant marker on your ATM card. Here are some general tips to protect your identity and money while you're online.

Protect your personal information! It's valuable!!

Your identity is the key to your financial accounts, your credit record, and all of your personal assets When you're asked for personal information on a web site, find out how it's going to be used, and how it's going to be protected before you share it. As interesting as they are, READ web site privacy policies.

Because e-mail is not a secure transmission medium, never send personal information (social security numbers, passwords, etc) via e-mail.

Know who you're dealing with online

Beware of phishing, pharming and free file sharing. Don't open any e-mail attachments or follow links in e-mail if you don't know who sent the mail.

Use anti-virus software, a firewall, anti-spyware software and keep your programs up to date.

They slow you down and can trip you up a lot, but those anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall programs can be worth their weight in gold! Be sure to keep them up to date. When they start nagging you that there is an update available, don't be the guy who got zapped with the latest trojan horse virus!

Keep your operating system and browser software up to date.

You know those naggy little icons that tell you an update is available? Stop ignoring them - take a couple minutes and download the updates. This step could save you a lot of time, effort, frustration, aggravation and money!

Use strong passwords or strong authentication technology to help protect your personal information.

Use a strong password! A strong password is one that has:

    • at least eight characters
    • at least one number, one letter AND one special character
    • is NOT a word in the dictionary
    • is NOT using your personal information (your name, birthdate, etc)
    • is NOT using adjacent keys on the keyboard (ex: qwerty)
    • change your passwords regularly
    • use a different password for each online account

Learn What to do if Things Go Wrong!

Infected with a virus? Got phished (spam@uce.gov)? Scammed in an online auction (ftc.gov)? Divulged personal info (ftc.gov)?