span than to allow family or close
class="cap">T he use friends to access some on-line
of the Internet to steal accounts. Following such
people’s personal details such as occasions you should change your
credit card numbers, social passwords as soon as you possibly
security numbers, user IDs and can.
passwords is called “phishing”
Use secure passwords. Never
(pronounced fishing). This is use a password such as your
accomplished by the fraudulent middle name, your pet's name,
impersonation of a trusted your date of birth and so on.
institution or corporation such These may be easy to guess. Nor
as a bank or credit card company. should you use any word that
Phishing is growing all the time exists in the dictionary. A
and the techniques and technology strong password uses a
used is becoming ever more combination of letters and
sophisticated. However by numbers and symbols. It is
following these simple rules you possible to create such passwords
can greatly reduce the chance of in an easy to remember format.
falling victim to phishing.
For example, the password A$4A10c
Never reveal your passwords. looks quite random but may be
Not even to a family member or remembered as "A dollar for a
close friend. Of course you trust dime". Using a technique such as
your family and friends but once this You can have lots of fun
you have revealed a password to creating your own secure
them you can never be sure that password.
they will not unwittingly reveal
Use good security software (an
your password to someone else. anti-virus, anti-spyware,
There may be occasions, due to anti-spam and firewall are a
sickness or accident for example, minimum requirement). Once
when you have no other choice installed don't forget to keep
all your security software concerned.
updated. Many require an annual
Regularly check your on-line
license fee in order to keep accounts. Log on to your account
working at their best. You should and investigate any action that
never allow your security you don’t recognise. It may just
software to become outdated or be that the details of a retailer
allow the license to run out.
transaction are not easily
Use the most current versions recognisable so investigate
of Internet browsers. Most of the before you take action.
current versions contain their
own anti-phishing filters and
exactly like a regular email from align="center">
your bank or credit card company
and you may be tricked in to clicking their link which will type="text/javascript">
"728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text"; type="text/javascript"
google_ad_channel
="8710800197"; src="http://pagead2.googlesyndica
tion.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
google_color_border =
"F5F7FB";
google_color_bg = "F5F7FB";
google_color_link =
"0000FF";
About the Author:
Tim Maguire holds a Masters degree in Computer Science and is a full-time computer consultant. For further help in protecting your PC against spyware, computer virus, hacking, spam, phishing and general PC security you should visit his website keepyourpcsafe.co.uk
Article Tags: password, passwords, security
