Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans has been the victim of cybercrime? As technology continues to move forward, making our lives easier and more connected, cyber criminals are developing more sophisticated techniques to exploit technology for their benefit.

No country, industry, community, or individual is immune to cyber risks, and no one government agency, company, or individual can thwart the risks alone. We all have a role to play in stopping cybercrime.

In honor of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, (NCSAM) here are 7 measures you can take to protect yourself from online criminals.

1. Create Strong Passwords – Create passwords with eight characters or more and that use a

   combinations

   of letters, numbers, and symbols.

2. Keep Private Information Private – Keep social security numbers, account numbers, and passwords private, as well as specific information about yourself, such as your full name and date of birth.

3. Lock Your Computer – Lock your computer and smartphones when not in use.

4. Protect Your Computer – Be cautious about opening attachments or clicking on links in emails and remember that free apps (games, ringtones, screen savers) can hide viruses or spam.

5. Own Your Online Presence – Always use privacy settings on social networking websites.

6. Do Business with Reputable Vendors – Before providing any personal or financial information, make sure that you are interacting with a reputable, established vendor.

7. Report Suspicious Activity – Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.

To learn more about National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2014, visit www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month-2014. For more cybersecurity tips, visit the Homeland Security Investigation’s Cyber Crimes Center at www.ice.gov/cyber-crimes or the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign website at www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.