Please safeguard your access to discussion and action.

Now that it has been demonstrated that outside forces have the capability for and the goal of interfering with Internet activities, it's very important that you safeguard your ability to participate. Another hack of major Internet venues is not just possible, it's probable. Review your current logons to venues that are important to you. If it has been a long time since you checked your security on those, do it now. Change your passwords to strong, unique passwords for each venue, and be sure to record your new logon information safely so you can access it quickly, if needed. Update your security questions on those venues and consider using advanced security measures, such as two-party logons where you have to receive a text with a confirmation code for the most critical Internet facilities you use, such as email.

Do not be taken in by any Phishing emails. Never click a link in any email from venues on which you participate. Instead, go directly to the venue to check on your security. Never open attachments from any Internet venue. None use them for security reasons.

If you allow your Internet browser to store passwords, turn off that capability and log on each time. That's especially true with banking, shopping, and other sites that store your financial information. Never allow your browser to store your passwords and log on automatically if your financial well-being could be at risk. ALWAYS use unique passwords on such sites that do not relate to any other passwords you use.

Don't put personal information in posts online. Ever. There are malicious websites that create archives of such information. There are at least two websites with discussion forums that target DU and DUers in this way. If you have posted personal information, those websites have it and make it available in areas you cannot access unless you are a member of that website.

Be safe online. Be secure. Take both very seriously. If you are at risk from past neglect of passwords and other security measures, go and fix your online security now. If you do not, there's a good chance you're at risk for malicious activities. Don't assume that you are secure. You may well not be.

Finally, check to see if you are the subject of discussion elsewhere on the Internet. Do this by searching Google for your screen name here in quotation marks, followed by a space and -democraticundeground.com. You might just be surprised. Here's an example search you can enter: "Your Screen Name" -democraticunderground.com

I make that search once a week, just to check on any discussions of my screen name here. You can do the same for screen names you use on other websites, too. Just add a minus sign and the address for the website, in the format above.