Web Security

Once again, changes in the way Facebook handles privacy have opened more of user's personal information. It's now up to you to make sure your privacy settings are set at your level of comfort, and more things from your profile are set to be public by default.

If you've got a Facebook account, you're going to start seeing more websites that want you to use it. Facebook now allows you to "like" web pages that aren't part of Facebook itself. You'll also be able to use your Facebook account for an increasing number of websites.

Tax time is here, and the sharks are circling. And no, I'm not talking about the IRS. 

This time of year is rife with attempts by hackers and cyber-criminals to use tax-filing fear, uncertainty and doubt to steal personal information.  There's a rash of "IRS look-alike sites," says Dave Marcus, director of security research and communications at McAfee Labs. "If you go to a site that looks like IRS.gov, and give your Social Security number, you could be open to identity theft."

It's almost time for my annual self-flagellation rite: my annual tax returns. This will be the 20th straight year I've filed my taxes using  tax return software on my PC.

Tax software has come a long way since I printed out my 1990 return on a borrowed laser printer. Now, you don't even have to install it on your PC.

You can prepare your return through your web browser, over a secure and encrypted connection. And for people filing just a basic return, there's another advantage — the online version of H&R Block's and Intuit's basic software is free.