Safeguard Your Computer  

Educate yourself about the threats
Protect your PC against known threats

ACT NOW:

• If you have used the McAfee® Cybercrime Scanner or otherwise know that your PC is infected and need to take immediate action:
• Do not conduct any further transactions on your PC until you address the issue.
• Visit our online portal of free and fee-based service options to remove known problems, or...
• Run other malicious software removal programs to remove the offending programs as soon as possible, or...
• Visit your local electronics retailer who typically have onsite resources who can offer fee-based services for removal of malicious programs.

Back to top

Protect Yourself:

Assess your risk of identity theft
Learn how to recognize and take simple steps to remedy aspects of your online and offline environment and behavior that are putting you at risk for identity theft. Answer a few simple questions and at the end, you’re provided with an assessment of your risk and recommendations on how to avoid becoming a victim.

• Take McAfee’s Identity Theft Risk Assessment

Educate yourself about the threats
There are many tools available to familiarize yourself with today’s threats. The main threats to your computer, and therefore to you, are:

 
• Unsolicited email (spam) and phishing emails that entice you to purchase from fraudulent companies, become a cybermule, or otherwise target your personal information
• Learn about the Top 10 Phishing Scams
• Learn the top 10 ways to protect against phishing
 
• Malicious software that steals your information or otherwise controls your computer. Viruses, Trojans and spyware are some of the most common ones. Learn more about threats here.
• Download free McAfee SiteAdvisor® software, which rates the safety of websites as you search.
 
• Online identity theft is usually facilitated by malware and social engineering tactics. Criminals take possession of your personally identifiable information (PII) and could also gain access to your credit card information, bank account information, and/or Social Security number and use them for fraudulent purposes. Identity theft can also occur when you conduct transactions in the physical world and someone steals your checks, your mail, or otherwise gets your credit card information and other PII. Knowledge of the tricks and scams that thieves use to try to obtain your personal information can go a long way toward preventing identity theft. Be vigilant about sharing your personal details, and try to stay up to date on the latest online scams by educating yourself. Below is a list of ways you can educate yourself
  • Discover if you are putting yourself at risk with McAfee’s Identity Theft Risk Assessment Tool
• Watch the McAfee video on identity theft
• Read articles about identity theft on McAfee’s Security Advice Center
• Learn more about identity theft at the following resources:
• FTC’s Identity Theft Resources
• BITS/Financial Services Roundtable Identity Theft Assistance Center
• Identity Theft Resource Center
• Identity Theft Victims Guide from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

• Thoroughly review McAfee’s and the FTC’s Best Practices to protect against cybercrime
• Read the McAfee 10 Step Internet Safety Plan for Your Family
• Visit the McAfee Security Advice Center for more information about the threats, protections, security blogs, and more