By Cathryn Conroy

When was the last time you changed your password? If the answer is more than three months ago, it's time to change it!

Your password is what protects your account from cybercriminals. It should be easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess. If you've ever told anyone your password or you've had the same password for more than a few months, change it to make your account more secure.

To protect your account, follow these easy rules when creating a new password:

• Your password must be between 8 and 20 characters in length.

• Your password must contain at least one number [0-9] character.

• Your password must contain at least one special character from: !@#$%^&*()~`-=_+[]{}|:;',./<>?

• Your password must contain at least one upper-case and lower-case letter.

• Create a password that uses a combination of letters (upper-case and lower-case) and numbers [0-9] and special characters. Examples: 456Hat892# or $98578Slk*

• Do NOT use your first name, your e-mail address, your email ID or other obvious words.

Remember: Netscape employees will never ask you for your password.

To change your password on Netscape, follow these step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Choose a password that is eight and 20 characters long and includes a combination of letters and numbers, such as: 12hat93. Do not use your birthday, name, screen name or other obvious words or dates.

Step 2: Go to http://isp.netscape.com/ and click the "My Account" link on the top left.

Step 3: Click the "Change Password" link on the "My Account" page (upper left).

Step 4: Enter your existing password first. Then enter your new password on the following screen.

Step 5: Click the "Change Password" button.

Important advice:

• No password is totally secure. Every password can be cracked. The best you can do is to make it difficult for someone to figure it out.

• The worst password? That's the one you forgot!

• Change your password often. Changing it once every three months is recommended.

• The more important the password, the more frequently you should change it.

• Choose a long password. The longer it is, the harder it is to guess.

• If you must write down your password, hide the paper.

• Never give your password to anyone for any reason, and if you do, change it immediately.