Hacking prevention: Here are those links I promised!

Spybot:
http://www.safer-networking.org/

Roboform:
http://www.roboform.com/

NoScript:
https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/722

Article regarding Internet Explorer Autocomplete password vulnerability: http://www.ecommerce-blog.org/archives/internet-explorer-...

The #1 thing behind hacked accounts is carelessness.

1. Use complex passwords that combine letters, numbers, and special characters (*@#$%).

2. If you receive ANY private messages or emails that request your password, no matter how official looking they are, don't respond or click on links in them. They're likely phishing scams. YouTube will never ask for such info in a message.

3. Be very careful clicking on links that take you off site. Much of the current hacking is being done via cookie catchers and cross-site scripting on malicious sites that links are leading to.

4. Make sure your computer security is up to date (antivirus, firewalls), and use anti-spyware as well. Spybot Search and Destroy is a good spyware detection program.

5. Use a hardware firewall as well as a software firewall if you can. In general, most routers you get will have a hardware firewall built in.

6. Password management software can help in not only generating randomized and complex passwords, but it can store them and enter them as well, and even fill in forms for you. This can help prevent keyloggers. One I use is Roboform.

7. If you're using Mozilla Firefox as your browser, there's a nifty add-on you can use called NoScript. This will only allow scripts from sites you allow (there will be a S with a circle around it at the bottom of your browser, where you can toggle which URL's can use scripts). This is also a great way to block cookie catchers and cross-site scripting.

8. Always log out of your account when you are done with your session, to prevent visitors at your home from accessing your account, or worse, visitors in a public place (if you're using a public computer, i.e. school, library, etc) from accessing your account. (less info)