Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission’s Web site that helps consumers stay on guard against Internet fraud is revamping to provide extra tools for cyber safety. The FTC’s announcement of the newly designed and improved site comes on the first day of October, which is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Since the September 2005 launch of www.OnGuardOnline.gov and its Spanish-language counterpart, www.AlertaEnLínea.gov, more than 8.1 million visitors have learned about computer security at these sites.

Now, with the help of 22 federal agencies, industry organizations, and non-profit groups, the FTC has introduced a variety of new features to help consumers avoid Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information. The site’s Web 2.0 redesign allows users to download and embed games and videos, and search for topics.

The articles, games, and videos on the site provide information on 16 topics, including social networking, phishing, spam scams, and laptop security. Consumers can use buttons and banners to link from their sites. They also can order free publications and link to OnGuard Online’s partners, which include:

The Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Division; the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs; the Internal Revenue Service; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration; the Securities and Exchange Commission; the Internet industry’s public service organization GetNetWise; the National Cyber Security Alliance; the Anti-Phishing Working Group; i-SAFE America, an Internet education and outreach program; AARP; the National Consumers League; the Direct Marketing Association; WiredSafety.org; the SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security) Institute; the National Association of Attorneys General; the Better Business Bureaus; NetFamilyNews, a Web site, blog, and e-mail newsletter for parents; the Computing Technology Industry Association; the National Crime Prevention Council; the Association of College Unions International; and the Latinos in Information Sciences and the Technology Association (LISTA).

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

(Onguard Online FYI)