The internet can be quite dangerous at times. A lot of people out there would love to have your password into your bank account, credit card, etc. It's hard to stay protected from hackers and dangerous situations. I am here to tell you how to stay safe on the internet.

If your bank, e-mail service, etc. ask for your account name and password do not give it to them. A lot of hackers are now making fake e-mails that look real (company name, logo, etc.) so that they can get a hold of your information, to steal money, watch your activities, etc.

• Save the e-mail, keep it where it is.
• Contact the company regarding the e-mail.

Companies will almost never need your information. All of your information (account names, passwords, etc) are saved in a database. The only way they will need you to verify your name or to give your information again is if something happens to the database where the information is stored. This shouldn't ever happen, and if it did the company will probably have a back-up copy. Companies will never need you to verify anything after your account is setup.

Most websites you visit and have accounts with are usually secure. Secure sites are encrypted so hackers can't get your information without a lot of hassle. Some sites may still be insecure meaning a hacker can easily get information about you.

It's not easy to tell the difference between secure and insecure websites. Some may bring up a message telling you that the information you requested is part of an insecure site. Some sites may have it listed somewhere to tell you that they are infact secure. You can ask the company if they are and see if they can prove it (just incase). The most important thing is to be aware and try to be as safe as possible.

One major thing is passwords. If you have an account somewhere you have a password. These passwords can be compormised by hackers so they can get into your account. Below I have ways to help keep your password stronger, so a hacker has more difficulty in ever discovering it.

• A password should be atleast somewhat complex to make it hard for someone to decipher. Make it have letters and numbers.
• The longer a password, the better.
• Try not to have it anything related to you, like a pet name, child's name, etc. Try to make it so you can remember it but no one would be able to guess it.
• Don't make it so difficult that you can't remember, just try to make it hard for any hackers to decipher it.