Whether you’re betting or playing poker online, it is essential to take note of the following basic rules of security in order to avoid leaving the door to your account wide open to hackers.

1. Keep your operating system regularly updated
2. Update your browser regularly
3. Use an antivirus program and keep it updated
4. Use an anti-spyware software program (e.g. Spybot) and update it regularly
5. Use an electronic payment site (Moneybookers or NETeller) so that your credit card is only registered on a single website
6. Always use different passwords when playing on multiple poker sites
7. Use different passwords to those that you use for your e-mail addresses
8. Choose a password consisting of at least 8 characters and make it impossible to guess (e.g. don’t use your first name!)
9. Don’t automatically register your password in your browser or in the lobby of your betting or poker site
10. Don’t let anyone know your password – even your nearest and dearest and even if they’re doing you a favour
11. Never reveal your password by e-mail or over the telephone, even if the site apparently asks you to do so
12. Never play on a computer other than you own
13. Never play on your laptop computer over an insecure WiFi network.