Beware of e-mails asking you to verify passwords, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. Many Internet thieves go on "phishing" expeditions by sending out spoof e-mails asking you to click a link and verify account information. These e-mails look exactly like those from trusted institutions such as eBay, PayPal, or even your bank. A common theme: "We have identified some unusual activity in your account." Never, ever, reply to an e-mail asking you for sensitive account information. If in doubt, contact the institution directly.

USE A FIREWALL, especially if you connect to the Internet via a broadband connection such as DSL or cable. Hackers will usually target "always on" computers with unchanging IP addresses. In many cases an unprotected computer will be hacked within minutes of connecting to the Internet.

Use reputable anti-virus software and keep virus definitions up to date.

Take precautions when opening e-mail, even if it looks like it came from a friend. An e-mail virus will usually spread by automatically mailing itself to people in the victim's e-mail address book. Look for poor grammar or "foreign-like" language in the subject line, which are common characteristics of an infected e-mail. Be wary of opening any attached files that you weren't expecting; be especially wary of files ending in .exe or .com.

To help increase your e-mail security, set your e-mail program to read all messages you receive as "plain text."

Keep all security patches up to date. Set your Automatic Updates to "On."

Don't fall prey to e-mail hoaxes! The majority of e-mails advising of the latest mall parking lot scare, gasoline boycott and other sensational tidbits are hoaxes. So relax. The government isn't going to slap a 5-cent surcharge on every e-mail you send. You won't see something "really cool" on your computer screen when you forward an e-mail to 11 of your friends. You're not going to get hit by a truck if you "break the chain." AOL won't be donating 32 cents to a dying child for every e-mail you forward, and no, Bill Gates is not going to send you a check. Help clean up the Internet by hitting the "delete" button when you receive these e-mails. To verify whether a questionable e-mail is authentic or a hoax, visit snopes.com or urbanlegends.about.com.

Think twice before downloading files from the Internet. Peer-to-peer programs such as Morpheus and KaZaA are particularly risky; you may end up downloading more than just a media file. Some applications (such as Hotbar, Bonsai Buddy and Gator) are actually spyware/adware, designed to monitor the Web sites you visit, collect information about your browsing habits and/or display unwanted pop-up ads. Before downloading anything, read the company's privacy policy!