If you have spent any time in online poker rooms, you've likely heard about a couple of excessive-profile attacks concentrating on gamers.

"With cybercrime on the rise, it's only a matter of time earlier than hackers try to make use of malicious software program to target poker players," says Brian Corlisse of PokerSites.com, a leading guide to online poker websites. "Some poker pros have considerable balances of their poker accounts, typically with a whole lot of thousands of dollars, and that makes it a gorgeous industry to target."

"Stopping someone from hijacking your laptop boils right down to software program and common sense," says Charles Kolodgy, analysis vice president for Secure Products at IDC.

Reputable poker sites have invested in tight security measures, rivaling the sophisticated encryption utilized by financial establishments for on-line banking. However the onus lies on gamers to make sure their computers are protected from malicious varieties out to defraud you, says Kolodgy.

After all, extra individuals might be more keen to ante up as legal and regulated online poker spreads. It started up in three states final 12 months - New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware - and others are considering it. PokerAtlas.com, a site that boasts the biggest source of poker room and recreation information in North America, predicts as many as a dozen states may permit residents to play on legal online poker websites by the end of 2015.

To help ward off cybercriminals, following are 5 tips for defending your self whereas taking part in on-line poker, in addition to other on-line activities.

1. Security suites, software updates

Don't settle for a fundamental antivirus program you found free of charge or already bundled along with your operating system. Instead, decide up a more sturdy anti-malware ("malicious software") security suite that gives safety against viruses, worms, Trojans, keyloggers (which might remotely see what you are typing), spam and identification theft.

"Especially for online poker gamers, a safety suite - which includes a firewall - will assist prevent someone from getting onto your machine," says Kolodgy.

Good safety suites might value $50 per 12 months, typically for up to three PCs.

Paid services are normally updated more often, so you're at all times protected from the newest threats, and are updated automatically moderately than you having to remember to download the latest malware definitions.

On a related notice, it is also important to download the latest free software updates to your working system, in addition to third-get together applications, auplaypokerwptglobal.com such as Java and Adobe.

2. Use robust passwords

Creating a very good password for online poker isn't troublesome, nevertheless it does take extra time to give you one than using frequent ones like "password," "poker," "123456" or your youngsters' or pets' names - all of which aren't really helpful for obvious reasons. A powerful password is no less than seven or eight characters lengthy, has a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols and mixes higher and lower circumstances. It's also a good suggestion to avoid real phrases or phrases.

"And don't think changing a '1' for an 'i' will protect you both, as good password cracking packages may also guess these," warns Kolodgy. For example, passwords like "p1ckle" or "h3llo" aren't effective.

If you don't want to use the beneficial combination of letters, numbers and symbols, at least remember the fact that single word passwords are simpler to interrupt than multiple word passwords. Instead of "giraffe," use something like "bluegiraffe" or "sillybluegiraffeface." This should be a simple password to recollect - and better yet, add a number and symbol to it, too.

"Don't reuse passwords and alter them periodically, too," suggests Kolodgy.

It's also not a nasty idea to set up a brand-new Web mail tackle - comparable to a free Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Outlook.com account - and solely use that one associated with your poker account and nothing else.

3. Opt for two-step authentication

Major tech firms like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Apple supply a two-step authentication course of - and some poker websites now do, too. This serves as an additional security measure to guard your online accounts from being compromised. It confirms you - and solely you - are granted entry to your account.

As the identify "two-step authentication" suggests, in addition to an ordinary username and password you will additionally want a code that's sent usually by way of text message to your mobile phone, or revealed in an app. Before you achieve access to the site or app, you'll be prompted to enter that short, randomly-generated verification code.

Some poker sites will ship you a small gadget with a display screen on it, such as the RSA SecurID products. This safety token/key works the same manner as a textual content message - displaying a randomly-generated, one-time-use code to type in alongside with your password.

4. Don't play as the admin

To be additional safe, Kolodgy says you only ought to play online poker on a Pc you don't have administration (admin) rights to. "That way, it makes it difficult for someone to secretly install a program on your Pc whereas that session is on."

Kolodgy says it is fairly straightforward to set up a brand new account outside of admin on your machine, call it Poker, maybe, and log into this earlier than taking part in poker. "It isn't in contrast to enterprise companies who don't give admin rights to workers, so they can not purposely or inadvertently load software program the corporate does not want, and it helps forestall malicious code from running."

On a related note, Kolodgy says some firms are creating "digital machine" options, like PokerShield.com. Still in development, PokerShield is a customized-designed Linux working system that can be booted instantly from a USB or CD (or put in on your exhausting drive) and the system permits you to segregate your OS into two distinct platforms: one for on-line poker and the opposite for all other pc exercise.

5. Resist public Wi-Fi hotspots

Whether it's at your local espresso store, in an airport or a hotel foyer, tens of millions of cellular computer customers benefit from the free public Wi-Fi networks, or "hotspots." But do not use it for actions like on-line poker, banking or shopping.

Some Wi-Fi networks can seem like reputable - like a wireless network called "Hilton" or "McDonald's" - when in actual fact it's a faux. Nearby criminals can create rogue networks that usually include the title of the shop, lodge or airport, however truly will direct your info to their own pc. Before logging on, double-check it is legit by confirming the network title on the establishment.

Always assume your Wi-Fi connections are being eavesdropped on. That's, if you're browsing the web on your laptop, smartphone or tablet at a espresso store, do simple issues like read the information. Don't enter sensitive data - like your poker site password.

If you want, you may as well obtain and use free VPN (virtual personal network) software, like Hotspot Shield, to surf anonymously.

Another option is to convey your individual community and resist the free Wi-Fi altogether. Specifically, all wireless carriers sell Internet sticks that snap into your laptop's USB port and allow you to entry the Internet through cellular connectivity (some, like the MiFi products, don't require a USB in any respect). Or you might flip your smartphone into a private hotspot to get online, however remember of knowledge prices.

Follow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman. E-mail him at techcomments@usatoday.com.