How to make passwords 'hacker proof'

Weak passwords can compromise your safety on-line. GetSafeOnline.org, a joint initiative between the government and the Serious Organised Crime Agency, have released figures showing that 15% of internet users fell victim to hackers last year.

To protect yourself simply and effectively, here are six tips for creating stronger passwords to outwit hackers.

1. Never use personal information, e.g. mother's maiden name, pet's name etc.
2. Use different passwords for different accounts. Government statistics say that 17% of people still use the same password for every site they access
3. Use random number sequences - ideally a random combination of numbers alongside your chosen base letters and special characters
4. Use mixed character types, e.g. f1ow3r1ng instead of flowering
5. Update your password regularly
6. Use long passwords (ideally between 8 and 16 characters in length)

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Longer internet search queries up 5%

Longer internet search queries of five to eight words were up 5% from December 2010 to January 2011. Shorter search queries - those averaging one to four words long - decreased 1% from December 2010 to January 2011. Two-word searches comprised the majority of searches, accounting for 23.59% of all queries.

Source: Experian Hitwise