Protect your AIM account
Make sure you have a password that is difficult to guess but easy for you to remember, and that you change it frequently. Do not tell anyone your password. If you use a shared computer, you may choose not to use the Save Password feature on the AIM sign-on screen.
There may be security flaws in your operating system, web browser, or other software. These can allow a remote user to take control of your computer and capture your passwords or other personal data. There are several measures you can take to protect yourself from these security flaws, such as:
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Keep your operating system software up to date by installing all security updates/critical updates:
- Microsoft Windows
- Apple Macintosh
- Install personal firewall software, which will alert you to possibly dangerous data transmissions.
- Before clicking any hyperlink, in an email or IM, move your mouse pointer over the link so that you can see the actual URL (web address) that the link is pointing to.
Note: Moving the mouse pointer over the link can give you a good idea of whether the link is safe to click. If you are not sure, ask the sender if they meant to send it to you. Some viruses or trojans send dangerous links in emails or instant messages to users in the infected machine's Buddy List or address book, so that the recipient thinks the link is safe because it came from a known person.
- If you are going to visit an unfamiliar website, go to the security preferences for your web browser and change the security level to High for the Internet Zone.
- Create a secure password.
- Change your password every three months.
