Here are ten tips to keep you from falling prey to online hackers:

10) Don’t allow social websites to “leak” information about you!

The boom of online social networking has made it possible to keep in touch with our near and dear at the click of a button and that too almost free. Though we only want to share our personal information with people we know, we are prone to be affected by the invasion of privacy by the way the websites are constructed. It is always recommended to check the privacy policy of any website you want to register for and review the privacy settings for your favourite social networking site and make sure that they don’t “leak” sensitive information about you. Social networking websites provide a wealth of information to someone who’s interested. Whether it’s your photographs, location, family, friends, mobile number, email id, job etc., it’s all available for someone who’s looking. You shouldn’t reveal your address, phone number through online replies on these websites. It’s always a good idea to email it to them, if necessary.

9) Internet strangers are as strange as they are in the physical world

It is a reported fact that almost eight out of every 10 online “friends” of teenagers are unknown to them. In most of the cases these anonymous friends are fake accounts, created just to leak sensitive information, especially photographs and mobile numbers. So the thumb rule of the physical world — “keep away from strangers” — applies to the electronic world too.

8) Keep it up-to-date

It is highly recommended to update all frequently-used software, if not all. These include operating systems, internet browsers, document viewers, email clients, media players etc. Hackers exploit the latest security holes in software products to take control over the entire system and pull out sensitive files and even passwords from the victim’s computer. But there is an easier way to stop these attacks than what it takes for a hacker to launch it: download software updates from the vendor’s website on regular intervals. A weekly update policy is probably the best way.

7) Secure your wireless network

Most people don’t really realise the risks of leaving their wireless network open. It is not only mandatory to have a strong password to protect the wireless network but also to change the password regularly. It is generally understood that not protecting the wireless network only allows neighbours to use someone’s internet for free but the risks go beyond this. An insecure wireless network allows a hacker: (a) to read all our information going out to the internet, which includes but is not limited to credit card numbers, social security numbers, pictures, emails, chats etc. Take full control over our computer, web cam, microphone, printer, scanner etc. (b) Commit cybercrimes with full anonymity and making us the scapegoat, take the heat of from the police and other law enforcement agencies, being the legal owner of the internet connection.

A secure wireless network has a custom network name instead of the default name e.g. Linksys, Netgear, WPA2-AES encryption enabled, a strong password (more than eight characters) that should be changed regularly.

6) Type your passwords, don’t save them

With the rise of the internet and the countable number of available internet browsers, the favourite entry point for hackers is the security vulnerabilities in them. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and off late Mozilla’s Firefox are the mostly widely exploited browsers. Their vulnerabilities allow an attacker to install spyware, malware and Trojans. They can not only take control of your computer but steal your saved passwords from your most frequently used websites, which may also include webmail sites, social networking sites, online banking, shopping sites etc. In simple words, a single hole in the system can compromise the whole.

5) Use caution when clicking!

This one is a really big threat, but it’s a little less if Tip 6 is followed. When you’re on the web (or in your email), the links that you click on can do things that you don’t expect. On the internet, there are Rogue AntiVirus websites floating around that pop up and look almost identical to what you see when you go into “My Computer”. It also shows an apparent virus scan and then displays the results, indicating that you’re loaded with viruses. It then asks you to download something. If you know what you’re actually looking at, however, you can determine whether this is fake. Also, NEVER download a .exe, .com, .bat, .vbs, .what, .ever unless you’ve specifically set out in search for this file and you’re downloading it from a trusted source. You can add .pdf to this list too, as .pdf files are riddled with malicious codes.

4) Choose a strong password

It is a must to keep a complex password. The theory being it should not be easy to guess. Use this rule: Two capital letters, two numbers, eight characters long, not a word from the dictionary. Using that policy, your passwords should wind up looking something like this: Hg89yZ46. Say that a few times and you’ll start to hear a rhythm which will make it easier to remember. That being said, do not use the same password for more than a single web account.

3) There is no limit to human stupidity.

Hackers regularly exploit human nature. It can be, in most cases, predicted the way a human will respond when faced with a certain scenario. Humans feel good about themselves when they help someone else, so hackers can set up elaborate schemes in which the hackers act in distress in someway or the other in order to trigger this human response. Women are especially susceptible to this. These elaborate schemes that exploit human stupidity are technically called Social Engineering. When hackers fail at all technical exploits they just ask the victim, in a tricky way of course, to do it for them e.g. “Can you please reset the password?” “Can you click on that link?” “Will you please open that file?”

2) Guard your information as if your life depends on it

This is tied with Tip 10. Hackers often come across information about their victim on the internet that people intentionally put there for other people to find. Addresses, personal information, where you went to school, for how long, the names of your children, the name of your spouse, full names, etc. you’ll see what little information is needed in order to steal someone’s identity. Websites like Orkut, Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, so on and so forth are all gold mines for hackers, only because we like giving out information. A real simple way to keep yourself in check: Would you like everyone in the world to know all the information you share? Do you want someone in North Korea to have your cell phone number and home address? Google will find these information and index it. Once indexed, it’s indexed for life. It won’t go away, ever. And hackers will just get just what they want.

1) Be no-nonsense

If you use common sense, you will greatly reduce the risk of infection and exploitation. If you get an email from one of your contacts that seems suspicious because it has a link or attachment, don’t click on it. If a website opens a window asking you to download something, don’t download it. If someone contacts you, asking for information that you normally wouldn’t give out, but this person is in need of some kind of help, don’t go against your better judgment. When posting stuff on the internet, don’t divulge personal information. When shopping online, verify that it’s secured before submitting your credit card number. The use of common sense would greatly reduce the issues that we face online. Don’t send your passwords through email. If some person in Nigeria emailed you, saying that they had $14.2 million dollars in an offshore account and just needed help getting it to a US account and were willing to give you half of it if you helped them, would you give them your account information? It is really shocking to know that hundreds of people have already fallen victim to this scam. It exploits two human vulnerabilities: kindness and greed. Again, common sense and intuition could prevent this from ever working.

Following these few simple tips would make the internet a safe place for you.