Stop Your Password and Your Computer From Getting Hacked

The issue of computer security and safety is more of an issue today than at any other time in the history of computing. Before the arrival of the Internet somebody would usually need to be physically beside your computer before they could try and hack a password. A global network of computers has now given these guys the ability to try and back you from anywhere on the planet.

How can they do this? Well first off if you're surfing online without firewall, anti-virus and spyware protection you're leaving yourself wide open to a potential attack. Your computer connects to the Internet through what are called data ports. If the wrong ports are left open (meaning you're not using a firewall) then a hacker can compromise your computer in a few minutes of online time.

Why do they want your passwords? Information folks - it's worth more than gold to these guys. If they can get your login or e-mail password then the world becomes their oyster. And you're going to pay a high cost for this mistake.

So what can you do to stop your passwords being hacked?

1. Don't Use Dumb Passwords

The amount of people who have their password set to "password" or "admin" or "administrator" is pretty shocking. A dictionary hack will get through these in a few seconds. If your computer, laptop, netbook, smartphone, router etc came with a default password then change it immediately. Don't use your social security number or anytime else obvious either

2. Keep It Random

Don't use the same password for any more than 6 months. The longer you keep using the same password the more likely it is somebody is either going to guess it or have better luck hacking it.

3. Mix It Up

Any password you use should be alphanumeric - it should be a mixture of numbers and letters. An example of this would be your initials and your date of birth. This isn't a bad start but it could be guessed. A better way of creating a secure password is to use a mixture of numbers, letters and characters. So let's say your name is Greg Stephenson and you wanted a new password - here's an example!st3ph3ns0ng? It might be hard to make out but it reads as StephensonG with the letter e replaced with 3 and the letter o replaced with zeros. This is the type of password that's going to give most hackers a headache.

You don't need to invest a small fortune or get a degree in computer forensics to keep your password safe - it's just a matter of taking a very small amount of time and effort and putting it to good use.

Are you worried that your computer might be at risk? Your computer security is something you should take very seriously - it only takes one mistake to cause you major problems. If you want more info and help with your computer security problems then click here.