Taken from PC World Magazine, March 2011 Edition

No guarantee exists that hackers won’t gain access to your accounts.  But following these six precautions will significantly lower the risk.

1 – Install effective security softwarwe and keep it up-to-date.

2 – Be careful of the email.  Someone may be phishing.  Always go to the bank’s website, and log in… never click a link in an email.

3 – Don’t log on if the page isn’t secure.  The URL should begin with https: rather than the more common http:.

4 – Use a strong password, using random strings of numbers and letters.  Avoid words or names, and don’t let your browser save the password.

5 – Avoid public networks.  Do not visit your online bank, a credit card company, or a retailer from any public WiFi network.

6 – Protect sensitive data using encryption.