10 Tips to Stay Safe and Secure Online

by: Steve Robson
The Internet can be a dangerous place.While you're enjoying the convenience of online shopping,Internet banking and subscription websites, nasty peoplelurk around every corner.Hackers, fraudsters, identity thieves and many others wouldlove to get hold of your personal details.And what stands between you and a security disaster?Your password.Just 8 little characters long, it's your last line ofdefense online. Here are 10 tips for choosing and usingbullet-proof passwords that will protect you from harm:Tip 1 - Avoid the obviousPasswords based on personal details are too easy to guess.Avoid using names, places, favorite sports teams, or"password".Tip 2 - Make it non-dictionaryOne option a thief might try to crack your password is abrute-force dictionary attack. Choose something that youwon't find in any dictionary.Tip 3 - Use the full 8 charactersThe more characters a password contains the more secure itbecomes, so fill that password field to the max.Tip 4 - Mix the caseDeter thieves further by using a combination of upper andlower-case letters. A mIXeD cAsE password adds anotherlayer of protection and is ever harder to guess.Tip 5 - Include non-alphabetic charactersAdding numbers and non-alphabetic characters (like a hyphen)to your password makes it less likely to be cracked thansomething purely alphabetic.Tip 6 - Don't write it downThis should be obvious but it's amazing how many scraps ofpaper surround the world's PCs.Tip 7 - Assign a different password to each login idIf thieves get hold of your password, they'll try it inevery online system available. Use a separate password ateach website and you won't have all your eggs in one basket.Tip 8 - Employ a password managerRemembering multiple secure passwords can be challenging.Specialist software like http://www.robo-form.com managesyour passwords securely and automates the login process.Tip 9 - Logout when you're doneAlways hit the logout button when you've finished using asecure site like online banking.Tip 10 - Close that browserWeb pages and passwords can be cached in the browser, soclose down your browser window for added security.Follow these simple common-sense tips and you'll enjoygreater online security while benefiting from the manyadvantages the Internet has brought.