Advice on safe Web surfing

Can you distinguish a real e-mail from a fake one that’s out to steal your identity? Do you know how to pick the best security software for your computer? Looking for tips on protecting your children online or reducing the amount of annoying spam you receive on your cell phone? A new Consumer Reports Web site helps you with that and more.

The Consumer Reports Guide to Online Security site brings together the best of our reporting, tests, and survey data to create a one-stop place to get the latest information on how to protect yourself, whether on your cell phone, mobile device, or computer.

The information, most of it free (ratings are available to subscribers only), covers such subjects as spam, viruses, phishing, and ID theft; security software; and the newest threats you should guard against. Current features include 19 tips for staying safe online and findings from our 2008 investigative State of the Net survey. You also can take our interactive “Phishing Trip” to test your ability to distinguish legitimate e-mail messages from fraudulent ones.

The site also features videos, including a musical animation about e-mail scams called Gone Phishin’ and a clip on the Lenovo IdeaPad laptop, which lets you log on by scanning, believe it or not, your face. The guide also includes gateways to our online security blog and security and privacy user forum.