Ten ways to protect yourself online:

1. Make sure your operating system’s automatic updates and firewall are turned on.
2. Use security programs, including anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and subscribe to security updates.
3. Run a full system scan at least once a month.
4. Don’t open attachments or click on links in e-mails from people you don’t know.
5. Use passwords with at least eight characters, numbers and symbols, and change them regularly.
6. Access the Internet through a router — it creates an implicit firewall for you, so bots can’t reach your machine directly.
7. Don’t use the same password for every account — and use more complex passwords for important transactions, such as with your bank.
8. Don’t connect to the Internet using a wireless connection without a password.
9. Don’t send sensitive information to a Web site that does not begin with ”https,” which means it’s secured.
10. When you receive an e-mail, think about whether it’s really from the purported sender, rather than an impostor, before taking action.

Source: ohio.com