If you're a user of the popular Steam gaming platform, you've likely heard about the hack that potentially compromised passwords and credit card information. Although much of the damage has been done, but there are still things you can do to protect yourself. Here's a look at your options moving forward.
Change Your Passwords
Perhaps you use a good, strong, unique password on your steam account and, despite being stolen in the hack, it still remains safe and encoded. You may not be so lucky if you have a weak password. Either way, now is a good time to change it if you haven't already. When you're choosing a new password, it helps to know what the pros look for when they try to guess and methods hackers use to crack them so you can avoid falling into those traps. There are also a few good practices to follow. The most secure password is often one you don't even know. If you'd prefer something memorable, however, a multi-word password is generally considered to be among the most secure types. When you've come up with a password you like, be sure to test it so you know you didn't come up with one that's easy to guess or hack. Change it on your Steam account and you'll be in better shape.
Change Your Email Password, Too
If you're feeling a little worried, one thing worth noting is that Steam pays attention to when you access it from new computers. You have to enter a new code each time that is delivered via email, so even if your password was compromised the person trying to use it would also need access to your email account. It's best to have unique passwords for all your accounts, but if you've been using the same password this might be a good time to change. At the very least, make sure your email password doesn't match the one you use for any other service.
Monitor Your Credit and Debit Cards
It is still unclear whether or not any credit cards associated with Steam accounts were actually compromised, but you're going to want to keep a close eye on your statements to make sure there are no fraudulent charges. You may also want to call your bank and see what they suggest you do in this situation. They'll likely err on the side of security and suggest a replacement card with a new number. This can be a little inconvenient as it means being without your card for awhile, but if you go into one of your bank's branches you can usually get a temporary ATM card so you'll at least have easy access to your money.
Additionally, one of the best ways to protect yourself in the future is to use virtual credit cards. These virtual numbers often allow you to set specific spending limits so that if they're stolen your risk is minimized. Usually you can also specify timeframes and set them as single-use cards so you don't get any surprise charges. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from credit card fraud when paying online, but it does require a bit of upkeep when it comes to recurring payments.
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/bN2DDx095mA/what-you-should-do-to-protect-yourself-in-the-wake-of-the-steam-hack
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