The internet is certainly a convenience, and some would argue a necessity, in our society. We send email, pictures and transfer large amounts of other personal information at the push of a button. As a result, hackers are constantly looking for ways to illegally profit from your personal information. We hear more and more about security and data breaches with big retailers, the federal government and now even Major League Baseball. Here are five tips to protect yourself from hackers:

1. Treat public Wi-Fi hotspots with caution. You should avoid public Wi-Fi networks as much as possible. They are never going to be very secure. If you must connect, limit the types of sites you visit while using public Wi-Fi. Checking social media sites are one thing, but you should never access banking or financial sites until you’re on a private network. Never enter your credit card information if you are connected to public Wi-Fi.

2. Bulk up your home Wi-Fi. Make sure to set up a complex password on your personal router. Don’t keep the default password from the manufacturer. You should also enable WPA-2 as the security encryption standard for the router. WEP and WPA are easier to hack.

3. Never open attachments (unless you’re really sure they are safe). Never open email attachments unless you are 120% sure you know where they came from and why you are receiving them. One of the easiest ways for hackers to access your computer is by sending emails with virus-laden files. The virus then takes over the computer or even the entire network. The most dangerous attachments include Word files, PDFs, and .EXEs.

4. Perform required software updates for your operating system and web browser. A system that hasn’t been updated recently has weaknesses that can be exploited by hackers. Make sure you are current with software updates – the companies push them out for a reason, to stay ahead of hackers.

5. Use different passwords for every service/website. If you use the same password (or simple variants on the same password) at multiple sites, all of your accounts have been hacked if your information is stolen from one source. Passwords should be strong and complex. Here is a website where you can test the strength of your password. Don’t use your child’s name, or 1234 as password. Don’t leave a password list laying around.

Computer hacking is going to occur. Please take advantage of these tips to protect yourself from hackers.

Photo courtesy of MacLeod Cartoons.