The Internet can be a dangerous place.
While you're enjoying the convenience of online shopping, Internet banking and subscription websites, nasty people lurk around every corner.
Hackers, fraudsters, identity thieves and many others would love to get hold of your personal details.
And what stands between you and a security disaster?
Your password.
Just 8 little characters long, it's your last line of defense online. Here are 10 tips for choosing and using bullet-proof passwords that will protect you from harm:
Tip 1 - Avoid the obvious
Passwords based on personal details are too easy to guess. Avoid using names, places, favorite sports teams, or "password".
Tip 2 - Make it non-dictionary
One option a thief might try to crack your password is a brute-force dictionary attack. Choose something that you won't find in any dictionary.
Tip 3 - Use the full 8 characters
The more characters a password contains the more secure it becomes, so fill that password field to the max.
Tip 4 - Mix the case
Deter thieves further by using a combination of upper and lower-case letters. A mIXeD cAsE password adds another layer of protection and is ever harder to guess.
Tip 5 - Include non-alphabetic characters
Adding numbers and non-alphabetic characters (like a hyphen) to your password makes it - continued below ...
