keyboard_securityYahoo! is committed to creating a safer online experience for everyone. Here are some simple tips and links to help you navigate the Web more safely and securely.
What to do if…
• You forget your password. Reset it here.
• Your account has been phished (someone acquired confidential information deceitfully). Report the abuse here.
• Spam is being sent from your Yahoo! Mail Account. Report it to the Yahoo! Help Center.
• Your child wants an email account. Sign up for a family account.
• Someone is harassing you by email. If interactions with other people online are making you uncomfortable, report their abuse. To report abuse or harassment in Yahoo! Mail, use the Yahoo! Mail Abuse Form.
• Someone is harassing you on chat. Report abuses on Yahoo! Messenger with the Yahoo! Messenger Abuse Report Form.
• You’ve received spam or an email soliciting your confidential information. To report spam, fill out this form to feed into our Anti-Spam systems; otherwise, see the Yahoo! Security center to report other misuses.
You can also take precautions to ensure a safer online experience before you deal with fraudsters.
Before Login:
Sign in Seal
A few simple steps can help you create a more secure login. Yahoo! offers the option of adding a sign-in seal to your sign-in page before you enter your information. The seal is an image, chosen by you, that appears when you log in, to demonstrate that the page is official and not a fake page planted by someone trying to steal your information. For more information on setting up a sign-in seal, see the Yahoo! Help Center.
HTTPS
Another precaution that you can take when you log in is to check if the website is HTTP secure. If your browser window URL begins with the characters “https” rather than “http” without the “s,” the information that you send will have an added layer of encryption. When visiting an “https” site, if you are on an insecure network, it is much more difficult for others on the network to interfere with the information that you send.
While you’re signed in
Email Safety
Another security precaution that you can take while browsing the Internet or checking your email is asking yourself: Who is contacting me, and what do they want? Sometimes fraudsters may be posing as a company such as Yahoo! or your bank. Don’t just trust the name of the email sender—check the return email address of the individual sending the email. Even an email from a trusted friend is not a guarantee -- if it seems odd or asks you to click on links without appropriate context, your friend’s email account may be compromised. Do not reply to the emails or click on any links. The Yahoo! Security Center has some informative resources on how you can detect phishing.
Change your password
If you think you have given away private information, don’t wait for a fraudster to take over your account. Change your password and reset your account. Find more details on how to do so at the Yahoo! Security Center.
Create a secure password
You can make a password that is harder for robots to guess. Yahoo! Safely has some tips on choosing a safe password.
Keeping your computer secure and safe requires software, security settings, and most importantly, vigilance to recognize threats and report abuses. If you see something in your inbox that shouldn’t be there, report it! It can help you and other fellow members of the Yahoo! community.
