Fraudulent sites sometimes try to take advantage of Orkut users like you and me by positing links to malware\phishing sites to trap users.

To help make sure that everyone is able to have a fun and safe experience on the site, I thought I’d share a few quick tips that I’ve picked up during my experience. Here are the tips below:

• Create a tough password:

While “yourname123″ is always a tempting password to create, keep in mind that it’s just as easy for a malicious user to figure out as it is for you to remember. Try creating a password that involves a combination of letters and numbers that no one could easily guess, even if they know basic details about who you are. The same goes for your security question (the question that pops up if you forget your password) – you should try your best to pick a question that only you can answer.

• Keep your private details private:

Never share your Orkut username and password with friends or on a site not authenticated by Google. Orkut does not allow any external sites to store Orkut login information and will never request that you enter it anywhere outside of the Orkut login page. To be on the safe side, always check that your address bar reads “https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?…..” and nothing else when sharing your Orkut user name and password.

• Leave the coding to the engineers:

Never copy and paste code into your address bar, no matter what it claims to be able to do. Typically these scripts actually send messages (in your name!) to your friends trying to trick them into giving up their personal information.

• Downloads and Orkut don’t mix:

Never download any file off of Orkut, especially those that end in ‘.vb’ or ‘.exe’. These files are often viruses that can infect your computer and start sending thousands of spam messages on your behalf. Sites offering special Orkut themes or skins are particularly risky.

• External links? Think twice:

Links to sites outside of orkut that appear in scraps or posts have not been verified by the orkut team, and could lead you to harmful sites. We’d recommend only clicking on links that go to trusted sites or those that are from other orkut users you know well.

• Anti-Virus software is always a good call:

Even the most conscientious orkuteer can fall victim to a phishing attack, so it’s important to always be alert and prepared. Regularly scanning your computer with updated anti-virus software is a great way to keep your computer secure. Haven’t installed anti-virus software on your computer yet? Check out Google Pack.

• For new orkut features, check out apps!:

Sometimes an unofficial site may claim to offer special orkut features, but these sites are known for taking over orkut accounts and directly violate our Terms of Service. If you’re looking for fun new orkut functionality, check out the thousands of applications that we have available. All of these apps have been built by talented developers according to standards that we believe will help to keep you safe online. If you haven’t visited the app directory recently, take a look– you might be surprised at how much cool stuff you find.

• Fake login pages – email address and password hacking:

Be aware of sites like PowerScraps, Way2SMS etc. (Official Orkut forum suggests not to use these two sites). These sites might store\steal\share your passwords and email address to hack\spam your inboxes.

• Orkut Applications:

Not all Orkut applications are Good! Even though the Orkut engineers review the application before approving them, applications might change how they work and spam you and your friends. You need to know that when you add applications, your public profile information* will be shared through the application with:

- The application developer
- Your friends who receive your updates on Orkut
- Any other viewer or user of the application, whether on orkut.com or another website where the application appears.

• Found something suspicious?

If you find abuse (spam, nudity, or malicious content), Report them. Orkut follows strict removal policies. Orkut security and abuse team will review these cases and remove any violating content\material. Visit the help center for more information.

Well… now that you have read all these tips make sure you follow them and you should be 110% safe on Orkut …. Stay Safe…

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