Yes, you read right. Some clever hackers broke through Dropbox’s security and started sending random emails to to dropbox users using Dropbox email addresses. Sounds minor right? Yet, its just another reminder that no matter what internet companies would like us to believe, our information is not as safe as we’d like them to believe (even the United States’ government is occasionally hacked).

So we’ve done the research for you and put together a 5 point list on keeping your information safe on the internet:

1. Don’t put private things on the internet. Yes, its pretty much common sense, but seriously, if there’s something you don’t want other people to see, don’t put it on the internet. There’s nothing safer.

2. Use a good antivirus and backup program. Keep it updated too. Most of us have lost information because of viruses we hadn’t protected ourselves against. Its often at those times that we feel that saving money isn’t as important as saving information. Internet based storage sites, while very useful and relatively safe, are still vulnerable to hacks. You took the time to invest in a computer; invest in a program to save your own data.

3. Look for ‘https’ and the little lock in your address bar. Most websites use ‘http’, but websites that require more information and are storing important personal information often have ‘https’ at the beginning of their address. The ‘s’ tells you that the information you enter is encrypted prior to transfer to help keep it safe. The (more common) little padlock icon also lets you know a site is secure.

4. Don’t enter, save or upload confidential information on a public computer. Even if you delete your information afterwards, there is no way to tell if that computer is infected with a keylogger or other malware that can keep your information. Just wait until you get home, or to a secure computer. The computer’s “cache” information system will also work against you, often automatically storing information you type into websites for use at a later date. If you only use public computers, use them at your own risk.

5. Reduce the potential for attack. Don’t sign up for every offer on every website that comes your way. Be very careful which websites you share your information with, because let’s face it, once they have it, you are barely in a position to determine what they do with it. I don’t think I need to remind everyone about the Facebook debacle.