Protecting Hotmail Accounts

We have recently become aware that some users and friends who have hotmail email accounts have been subject to recent hacking issues. Once your hotmail account has been hacked, the persons responsible are then using your email account to send spam messages to your contact list. Sometimes they are also sending links within these messages designed to compromise the recipients computer if they are clicked on.

We strongly advise any one using Hotmail to make sure that they follow these sensible guidelines. Remember, if someone has hacked your email account, they now will have access to all your contact list and private emails or information. This should not be taken lightly and you should act quickly to restore a compromised hotmail account without delay.

Securing your account with a good password:

1. Make sure you choose a good strong password for your email account. Make it at least 8 characters long
2. Don't use your real name, username or a company name
3. Include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols
4. Don't use the SAME password for multiple accounts. If a hacker gets in using a password, the chances are they will try the same password on other accounts belonging to you.

Keeping your computer safe and secure:

1. Sometimes accounts can be hacked because you have not installed a good protective antivirus software. There are free and paid for alternatives available. Some free choices are:
   AVG Free
   Avast Free
   
   Paid for alternatives - Links go to Amazon Home Shopping
   Norton Internet Security
   Kaspersky Internet Security

If you account has been hacked, then go directly to Windows Hotmail and either try logging in using your username and password. If you can access your account, then go to password reset