Nearly everyone online today has some sort of online account containing sensitive information. Be it our online bank account login or our online auction password, a lot rides on the security of our passwords. Even the most secure password, however, is no match for the 'phishing' schemes online today. 'Phishing' (pronounced "fishing") or 'password fishing' is the process of directing people to fraudulent sites and tricking them into entering their username and password. These sites often are mock-ups of Hotmail, eBay, Paypal, common banks or stockbrokers, or other sensitive accounts. Often these sites will use language and graphics from the original sites to make them seem legitimate. What can you do to make sure that you don't get caught by a phishing scheme?

1. 1) Be Wary of Emails: A majority of phishing schemes are executed through email. Many times, these emails will have urgent sounding subjects and may indicate that your account is due to be closed or needs to undergo 'verification.' Often, these emails will have a forged 'From' address and may appear to have a from the legitimate site. Don't click any links from these emails. If you are concerned about your account, visit the site by manually typing the address into your browser.
2. 2) Guard your Passwords: Be very careful about which sites you give your passwords to. When signing up for websites that you don't know or trust, use a new password, different from other passwords you use. Keep these passwords secure.
3. 3) Check the URL: When entering your login or password, verify the internet address in the upper address bar is the proper address. If you are unsure, navigate back to the site using trusted links, such as links from a main, trusted homepage.

What should you do if you suspect you've been a victim? First, contact whatever site you suspect has been compromised and change your password as soon as possible. If credit card or bank information was available through the compromised account, contact your bank or credit card provider and be on watch for fraudulent charges on your statements. Overall, if you look out for these simple things, you can be sure that Internet Phishers will have to brag about the one that got away.

Do you own a wireless router? Wireless routers allow enabled devices to access a network without any need for cables. With this convenience, however, comes the increased danger of hacker attacks.

Tighten your security by going through this checklist:

1. Read the manual for your router. Becoming familiar with the settings on your router is always a good place to start in securing your network. While in-depth technical knowledge isn't necessary, know how to use the tools included with the router to change your settings.
2. Don't broadcast your SSID. Check your router settings and make sure that your network is set up not to broadcast your SSID. Online guides exist to walk you through this.
3. Change your SSID from 'linksys' or 'default' to something difficult to guess. Go ahead. Name your network after the family cat. Make it something difficult for a stranger to guess, but easy to remember and spell.
4. Use MAC filtering. If you're tech savvy or feel like you need the extra security, you can engage MAC filtering on your wireless router to make sure that you're the only one connecting to your access point.

While there is no 'silver bullet' against hackers, tightening your security for your wireless router will significantly decrease your chances of becoming a victim.