1. Patch OS vulnerabilities by installing security updates (Microsoft Update, Apple OS updates Linux OS software updates). Patch Productivity software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org)

2. Update all software that connects to the Internet (Web browsers, email clients, Flash, Java, Adobe Reader, iTunes, Quicktime, RealPlayer, Bit Torrent, Instant Messaging programs, etc. )

3. Update drivers.

4. Use a different password for social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace & Twitter (most social networking sites don’t have SSL encrypted login for the users. Hackers know that most people use the same password for their email that they use for the social networking sites. Most social networking sites don’t allow you to have a user name to log in as & requires that your email be your user name. The hacker then knows your email address & has odd in his/her favor that the password that was intercepted on the logon to the social networking site will allow access to be gained to the users email which in turn will be used to spam & spread viruses.

As of late a lot of people have been complaining that their email was hacked & keeps getting re-hacked even after they change their email password (they keep seeing emails being sent from their own email account to all of their contact in their address book that they didn’t send). Also they complain that nothing is found on their system by their anti-virus programs which would explain the continued compromise of their email account.

They don’t realize what is actually happening is that their email address & email password are being obtained because they are using the same email address & password on the non SSL encrypted social networking sites that hackers can intercept the packets from as they log in).

(www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com Vol. 4, #97 – January 12, 2011 – Issue #97 )