Practically everything needs a password these days. Passwords are the most common form of security; however, they can be easy to circumvent. Here are some helpful hints:

	Don't use common or well known information about yourself as a password (e.g. birthday).
	Don't store your password somewhere easily accessible to others (e.g. under your keyboard). In fact, try not to write them down anywhere.
	Use a combination of alpha-numeric characters at least 6 digits long.
	Don't use the same password for everything. A known password could be exploited with other applications.
	Change your password frequently.
	Don't use normal dictionary words as they are easy to break.

What is a firewall? It is a piece of software or hardware that filters all inbound and outbound traffic and can restrict certain types of communications. Firewalls are extremely important because they limit your exposure to unknown sources by blocking ports. Computers have thousands of communication ports that are used for various (legitimate) purposes. Hackers commonly attempt to gain access to your system by looking for open ports. A firewall allows traffic only through ports that you authorize. Think of it like doors in your business: you lock the doors that you don't want people going through; otherwise, you could be taken advantage of.
 

Do you submit personal information over the internet like credit card and social security numbers? If so, then you need to ensure that your information remains secure while in transit to the destination. Data encryption "scrambles" your communications so that it can't be read by anyone attempting to intercept it. When submitting data online, be sure that the site offers encryption. A secure site will commonly be prefixed with https:// (as opposed to http://). Additionally, if the site is encrypted, a little lock will be displayed in your browser window. You can view the certificate properties of that site by double-clicking the lock (this will show you who granted the Secure Certificate). If the site doesn't appear to be secure, or if you don't trust the issuing authority, then don't submit your personal data.

It's a known fact that most viruses or exploits are targeted at computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems. In fact, viruses often exploit a weakness within Windows that may have been previously unknown. Although attacks like these aren't always preventable, Microsoft goes to great lengths to secure any weaknesses found in their operating systems. After the flaw has been fixed, they will issue a hotfix or service pack that counteracts any previous threats. Keeping current with operating system updates helps reduce your security exposure. You can visit Microsoft's website to check for updates or you can enable the Automatic Update feature on your computer (Windows XP only).
 

Everyone knows that viruses and spyware can cause damage, yet a large percentage of computers operate without protection from both threats. By not installing protective software, you put your computer, and others, at risk (an infected computer can contaminate other computers).

Another common oversight with anti-virus/spyware applications is not keeping subscriptions current. A subscription is what allows your software to stay up-to-date with the newest definitions of known threats, which limits your risk of being infected. A computer running definitions that are a year old isn't protected against threats that were developed/identified within that past year. Contact your software manufacturers for the latest updates and definitions.