Staying Safe & Secure On Orkut ~ Tips!

Working on orkut security, I know that fraudulent sites sometimes try to take advantage of orkut users like you and me. To help make sure that everyone is able to have a fun and safe experience on the site, I thought I'd share a few quick tips that I've picked up many places.
A bunch of these might seem like Stupid, but hopefully you'll learn something new here:

* Create a tough password: While "yourname123" is always a tempting password to create, keep in mind that it's just as easy for a malicious user to figure out as it is for you to remember. Try creating a password that involves a combination of letters and numbers that no one could easily guess, even if they know basic details about who you are. The same goes for your security question (the question that pops up if you forget your password)– you should try your best to pick a question that only you can answer.

* Keep your private details private: Never share your orkut username and password with friends or on a site not authenticated by Google. orkut does not allow any external sites to store orkut login information and will never request that you enter it anywhere outside of the orkut login page. To be on the safe side, always check that your address bar reads "https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?....." and nothing else when sharing your orkut user name and password.

* Leave the coding to the engineers: Never copy and paste code into your address bar, no matter what it claims to be able to do. Typically these scripts actually send messages (in your name!) to your friends trying to trick them into giving up their personal information.

* No Downloads on orkut: Never download any file of orkut, especially those that end in '.vb' or '.exe'. These files are often viruses that can infect your computer and start sending thousands of spam messages on your behalf. Sites offering special orkut themes or skins are particularly risky.

* Think twice about external links: Links to sites outside of orkut that appear in scraps or posts have not been verified by the orkut team, and could lead you to harmful sites. We'd recommend only clicking on links that go to trusted sites or those that are from other orkut users you know well.

* Anti-Virus software is always good : Even the most conscientious orkut user can fall victim to a phishing attack, so it's important to always be alert and prepared. Regular scanning of your computer with updated anti-virus software is a great way to keep your computer secure. I'd Suggest Avast Anti virus (the latest version) , its safe & gets most of the Viruses/Trojans etc!

* For new orkut features, check out apps!: Sometimes an unofficial site may claim to offer special orkut features, but these sites are known for taking over orkut accounts and directly violate our Terms of Service. If you're looking for fun new orkut functionality, check out the thousands of applications that orkut has made available. All of these apps have been built by talented developers according to standards that we believe will help to keep you safe online. If you haven't visited the app directory recently, take a look– you might be surprised at how much cool stuff you find.

Visit here for New Orkut Features & Updates!
http://en.blog.orkut.com/

Most of the tips are collected from orkut help groups!
If you have more tips for staying safe on orkut that you think could benefit others, please leave a Comment about it here or Contact Me personally! :)

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