1. Be careful what you share and post online. Remember, don’t post or share anything that you wouldn’t want shared publicly, even if you think you’re just sending it to one person.
   
2. Be aware of what is being shared about you. Set the privacy and security settings on web services and devices to your own comfort level. Limit how and whom you share information with. This includes friends, relatives, businesses, etc.
   
3. Don’t send any sensitive information when connecting over public Wi-Fi.
   
4. Manage your privacy settings and check for updates on your social media and other application privacy settings. To find a comprehensive list on how to do this, check out StaySafeOnline. 

Following these tips can help keep your computer clean and your personal data secure.

• Use caution when opening emailed files that come from someone you do not know.
  
• Verify senders. If you receive an unexpected email from someone you know asking you to download a certain file, call and ask the person to verify that they sent the email.
• You can install a site advisor to help you decide if the site is trustworthy or not.
• Only download files from known and reputable sites that have confirmed that the download is malware free.
• Research software. If you are unsure about the quality of a download, leave the site and research the software you are being asked to install.
• Keep your computer up-to-date. Make sure your computer has an updated antivirus service.
• Set your antivirus schedule to automatically update and run scans daily.

A strong password is the first line of defense for protecting your personal data online. Passwords are necessary for a majority of our online activities, including filing taxes, social networking, online banking, and paying bills. Creating complex and unique passwords helps to keep your information more secure.

• Be a minimum of 8 characters long
• Contain at least one capital letter (A-Z), one lowercase letter (a-z), one number (1, 2, 3…), and one special character (*!#>/%@…)
• Be changed on a regular basis or once a year (Remember, it's more important to create a strong password than to change a weaker one often.)

• Be written down
• Contain the user ID, user’s name or initials, or family member names
• Contain other personal identifying information (nicknames, license plates, home address, Social Security Number, birthday)
• Be used on more than one site

• Use a password that’s easy for you to remember but hard for a hacker to guess. You can easily turn a sentence into a complex and secure password, also known as a "passphrase."
For example: 
Sentence: My daughter Helen was born at 8:15 am.
Password: MdHwb@8:15am.
• You can also use a password manager that creates and stores unique, complex passwords for multiple sites. Password managers encrypt your password database with a master password that you generate. To compare different password managers, check out this review from Consumer Affairs. 
• When available, enable two-step verification or two-factor authentication. You can learn about services that offer two-factor authentication and how to enable it here. 
  

The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) is committed to keeping taxpayer information secure and helping to educate and inform taxpayers about potential identity theft and fraud threats. Follow these steps to help protect yourself and your family:

• Educate yourself and your family on potential scams, phishing attempts, and how to avoid them by utilizing IRS and SCDOR Security Center information. Learn about different types of fraud from the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.
  
• Protect your personal information. Make complex online passwords. Do not use the same password for multiple sites. Keep sensitive paper documents locked in a filing cabinet.
  
• Be careful with your money. Know who you’re dealing with in any situation involving monetary transactions. Don’t send money to unestablished charities. Don’t play foreign lotteries. Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back. Research a company before you invest. Always be wary of unsolicited offers.
  
• Review your monthly statements carefully for any unauthorized charges. Thieves can steal your account information and run charges on your debit and credit cards. If you notice any strange charges, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.
  

Look for more tips and information regarding scams, phishing emails, and identity theft from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the IRS.

Generally, yes, but you should always be mindful of who you allow to access your personal and financial information.

• Be wary of tax preparers who claim they can get you unrealistic refunds. A good rule of thumb to remember is: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• You may consider contacting the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (SCACPA) for assistance in finding a tax preparer.

Yes! Filing online is the most secure way to file.

• Your return is processed automatically and electronically through secure connections. Paper returns are handled by multiple people and take longer to process.
• You can file most taxes on our free and secure tax portal, MyDORWAY​. See more about individual​ and business filing options.
  

Unexpected disasters such as floods, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes can occur at any time. It is important to prepare ahead of time to keep your personal and financial information secure.

• Keep electronic copies of important documents in case your hard copies are damaged.
  
• Consider keeping backup copies on an external storage device, like a flash drive or hard drive. Store these duplicates in a safe place, like a waterproof container at a trusted relative's home or in a safe deposit box.
• Filing your tax returns electronically is faster and more accurate – and it ensures that your returns are protected from a natural disaster.
• More tips at dor.sc.gov/emergencies >