Caution: There have been password attackers.

[Jon]

Multiple attempts to hijack user accounts have recently been made. Because of this, be especially careful in transactions with members, whether by PM or in the Marketplace. It would also be a very good idea to make sure your password is difficult to crack:

• Not the same as your user name
• At least 8 characters long
• Not a dictionary word (whether in English or anotehr language)
• Not a family member's, or pet's name
• Mixed UPPER and lower case, numbers and special characters

If your password doesn't meet all these criteria, now would be a very good time to change it, especially if you didn't get a PM about unsuccessful attempts to log on to your account.

Remember: If you get an email from POTN, as described in the linked thread, it means that the system has stopped someone from trying to log in using your account. It does not mean that you have to change your password using the link provided. You only need to use that link if you were the person who failed, after five attempts, to log in to your account.

If you're using a public computer to visit POTN (or any other site where you need to provide a user name and password), before you walk away from that computer be sure to clear the browser's forms history, browsing history and browser cache, as well as logging out from the site.