Protecting Your Email

Complete Guide to prevent your Email Passwords from Hackers:

1. Don't use the links in an email, instant message, or chat to get to any web page if you suspect the message might not be authentic or you don't know the sender or user's handle. Instead, call the company on the telephone, or log onto the website directly by typing in the Web address in your browser.

2. Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information.

3. You should only communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information via a secure website or the telephone. Always ensure that you're using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information via your Web browser.

Phishers are now able to 'spoof,' or forge BOTH the "https://" that you normally see when you're on a secure Web server AND a legitimate-looking address. You may even see both in the link of a spam email. Again, make it a habit to enter the address of any banking, shopping, auction, or financial transaction website yourself and not depend on displayed links. Phishers may also forge the yellow lock you would normally see near the bottom of your screen on a secure site. The lock has usually been considered as another indicator that you are on a 'safe' site. The lock, when double-clicked, displays the security certificate for the site. If you get any warnings displayed that the address of the site you have displayed does NOT match the certificate, do not continue. Remember not all spam sites will try to show the "https://" and/or the security lock. Get in the habit of looking at the address line, too. Were you directed to PayPal? Does the address line display something different like "http://www.gotyouscammed.com/paypal/login.htm?" Be aware of where you are going.

4. Consider installing a Web browser tool bar to help protect you from known fraudulent websites. These toolbars match where you are going with lists of known phisher Web sites and will alert you.

The newer version of Internet Explorer version 7 or 8 beta includes this tool bar as does FireFox Verison 4.xx or 5 Beta too.

EarthLink ScamBlocker is part of a browser toolbar that is free to all Internet users - download athttp://www.earthlink.net/earthlinktoolbar

5. Regularly log into your online accounts. Don't leave it for as long as a month before you check each account.

 

6. Regularly check your bank, credit and debit card statements to ensure that all transactions are legitimate (or legal) and done by you or in your supervision. If anything is suspicious or you don't recognize the transaction, contact your bank and all card issuers.

7. Ensure that your browser is up to date and security patches applied.

8. Never Download anything from anonymous links or links in email accounts or chat boxes.

9. Always avoid downloading cracks, keygens and patches as most of these contains Trojans and Malware content that will leak you personal data to hackers.

10. Regularly update your antivirus and anti-spyware software so that all new viruses are detectable and can be repaired easily.

11. While Installing freewares always take precautions and don't install the additional recommended things by the software's. Install only those that you know or that might be useful for you. And never install toolbars as their codes are dynamic that means they can be used to steal your private secured data such as credit card details, email accounts information and other personal data such as your searching patterns and your computer event logs etc.

Few more Important Things that you should always remember

Always report "phishing" or “spoofed” e-mails to the following groups:

forward the email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org forward the email to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov forward the email to the "abuse" email address at the company that is being spoofed (e.g. "spoof@ebay.com") when forwarding spoofed messages, always include the entire original email with its original header information intact notify The Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI by filing a complaint on their website: www.ic3.gov

Some Tips while choosing your Passwords:

Choose a complex password. If you use a simple password such as "password" or "rockstar" or any dictionary word, it makes it easy for people to guess your password. This is especially true if your potential hackers are friends and family members who might try to guess. Instead, choose a password that makes use of both capital and lower case letters, numbers and special characters like the percent or dollar sign. Change your password regularly. Every month, make a point of changing your password to a new complex.