Computer and online security is a game of cat and mouse. Stay one step ahead of the cat by protecting yourself with these helpful tips.

Ok, so maybe “unhackable” is a bit strong. It’s impossible to ever truly be bulletproof online. But don’t let that stop you from protecting yourself; there many easy ways to keep your online accounts, Wi-Fi network, PC, and mobile devices secure – and that’s exactly what you should be doing. Here are a few key things everyone should be doing in order to keep the bad guys (or bad software) from sneaking into their machines and wreaking havoc.

Usernames and passwords

When crafting a username for online bank accounts or other sensitive services, don’t use the most obvious choices. That means, don’t use your name, any version of your name, your dog’s name, or any version of a family member’s name – all that information is likely readily available on the Web. And don’t use any username that you’ve employed for other accounts. Instead, use something that you’ve never used anywhere else online.

Passwords may be an antiquated way to protect our online accounts. But right now, they are the only option for most online accounts and gadgets. To craft a good password (which most people don’t do) it must be complex – lower-case and capital letters, numbers, and symbols are a must. I would suggest creating an acronym for your favorite phrase, then throwing symbols and your zip code or part of your childhood phone number at the end.

For example, turn the phrase “We mean no harm to your planet” into “WMnHtYP.” Then add in a symbol or two: WMnHtYP*$. And finally, your selected number, to give you the full password: WMnHtYP*$5172. Now, do that for each of your online accounts, including apps and iTunes or other online market places.

Of course, that’s a lot to remember, and writing down passwords can be just as dangerous if there’s a chance your password document falls into the wrong hands. Another option is to use a password manager app, like LastPass or 1Password, which does much of the hard work for you.

Wireless router

If you connect to the Internet over Wi-Fi, you need to make sure you have a secure connection. The first step is to password protect your router. (Each router is different; so if you don’t know how to do this, look up the instructions for doing so online.) And as mentioned above, make sure it’s a good password – the more complicated the better.

The next step is to turn on “broadcasting” of your network. This will make it so your Wi-Fi router doesn’t show up in other people’s lists of available connections. Most routers have this feature, which can be accessed through the router’s management software. (You can probably download this, if you don’t have it installed.) From there, you want to turn off the option that says “Enable SSID Broadcast” (or something like that). And you’re done!

Finally, you can stay extra secure by downloading network monitoring software like Fing, which allows you to check if anyone is on your Wi-Fi connection who’s not supposed to be.

Computer

We’ve all heard of antivirus software by now, so we don’t need to get into the nitty gritty of that. But you do need to install one, if you haven’t already. And then you need to keep it running. Malwarebytes is one of the best options out there, with both a free and paid version available. (Though, at $25, I’d recommend going for the Pro version.) Another good option is Bitdefender Total Security 2013, which will cost you about $52 right now, but has a slew of features that protect everything from your home PC to your social media accounts to your online bank accounts and more.

Note to Mac users: Cybersecurity experts predict that Macs will be increasingly targeted by hackers and malware in 2013, so don’t think you’re safe just because you have an Apple-made machine. You need antivirus software, too.

Smartphone or tablet

While not as vulnerable as a Windows PC, smartphones and tablets are still susceptible to viruses. Luckily for us, there are an increasing number of antivirus products out there for our mobile devices. For Android, check out either Avast! Mobile Security, or Lookout Security & Anti-virus. For iOS, your options are more limited, but VirusBarrier is a good, inexpensive option.

General don’ts

While software is a must-have, there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself just by creating good habits. Here are a few tips:

• Never use the same password across multiple accounts. It’s hard to do, but it makes it possible for a hacker to ruin your life more easily.
• Don’t fill out online questionnaires or quizzes that ask for information like your date of birth, hometown, mother’s maiden name, or other data that is often used for security questions.
• When filling out a security question (in case of a lost password, for example), don’t give an easy answer. For instance, if the question is “What is the name of your first pet?” Don’t just write “Rover.” Write “Rover451″ or some other variant.

Don’t click ads on porn sites – they are one of the primary ways malware is spread.

Heard the term "Ultrabook" but not sure what it means? We help explain what an Ultrabook is and how it's different from a regular laptop.

In the market for a new laptop? By now, you’ve probably heard the term “Ultrabook,” but what exactly is it and how is it different from a normal laptop? Intel coined the term in 2011 to describe a laptop that’s lightweight, yet powerful and sleek. Available in a variety of models and sizes, ranging from about 13 to 20 inches, and from about 3 to 18 pounds, these laptops must fit within a very specific weight and size spectrum to be called an Ultrabook.

With respect to Ultrabooks, these computers refer to a specific category of laptops created by Intel to compete with the increasingly popular tablets and the well-designed MacBook Air. Ultrabooks are ultimately meant to offer a reasonable compromise between portability and performance. For instance, while netbooks may be extremely portable, there is no question that these same netbooks do not operate at a high performance level. Ultrabooks, however, are extremely portable and boast more muscle than that of the typical netbook on the market today.

What laptops qualify as Ultrabooks?

By Intel standards, in order to qualify as a second generation Ultrabook, the laptops must first be less than 0.7 inches thick for laptops with 13.3-inch displays and smaller. Laptops must be less than 0.8 inches thick with 14-inch and larger displays, and less than 0.9 inches thick for convertible tablets. In addition, these types of laptops must run via low-powered Intel processors and boast a battery life of at least five hours. They also need to be able to resume from hibernation in less than eight seconds. These second generation Ultrabooks also require USB 3.0 and a minimum internal transfer rate of 80MB/s for storage.

What can you expect from an Ultrabook?

Intel’s second generation Ultrabooks use a speedy Intel Ivy Bridge processor.  In addition, most of the models on the market have Intel integrated graphics. That being said, if you are a gamer, you should not expect to do serious gaming on Ultrabooks. Also, the graphics may not be sufficient if you do a lot of audio conversion or video rendering.

It is also important to keep in mind that Intel does not have specific requirements for storage, RAM, screen size, or output or connectivity. For example, while most Ultrabooks feature Wi-Fi, if you require more specialized ports, such as a VGA output for instance, this type of port may not be available on your Ultrabook. These components are left up to the manufacturer’s discretion.

How much do Ultrabooks cost?

According to specifications from Intel, Ultrabooks should be priced in the range of $1,000. Generally speaking, Ultrabooks are available from manufacturers between the $800 to $1,400 price points. Of course, Ultrabooks with more features and a larger screen inevitably will be more expensive.

Are Ultrabooks a good option for you?

Without a doubt, Ultrabooks are an excellent choice if portability and design are highly important to your lifestyle. For example, if you travel often, or if you use your laptop to write, conduct Web research, and perform similar activities, an Ultrabook is definitely the way to go. However, if you require the use of heavy graphics and portability is not a priority for you, it might be in your best interest to consider other options.

Interested in buying your own Ultrabook? Check out our How to Buy an Ultrabook guide to help you get started before you get to the store.

Creating an iOS app isn't as hard as you think - just follow this respected guide and you'll be on your way to the App Store. That's today's DT Deals.

So you think you have the great big idea, but you don’t know how to go about developing it into a mobile app? It’s actually not as hard as you think – as long as you have a trusty guide to help you along the way. Today’s DT Deals is the $29 comprehensive guide to developing an iOS app. The step-by-step process helps you understand all the bits and pieces involved in creating a mobile product – from technical advice to tips on how to develop business off your brand new app. If you don’t enjoy what you’re learning, there’s even a 30-day money back guarantee.

If we’re doing our math correctly, $29 can get you a few hamburgers, a Blu-Ray movie or two, a pair of flip flops, a two-person movie date, or a standard iPhone case. With this investment, $29 might just make you the next big thing in tech. Aren’t you up for that challenge?

This week in Jetsetter we sweep across the European continent to look at PlayStation 3 sales, look at a little Belarusian company's success in Russia with World of Tanks, and stop off in Japan to lament Zynga's fall in the country.

Geseende Kersfees! Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah! Nadelik looan na nlooan blethen noweth! Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad! You feel what I’m laying down, reader? I’m saying Joyeux Noel to y’all. La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou. Feliz Navidad, you dig?

It’s how you say Merry Christmas the Jetsetter way. So Nadolig Llawen, bros and sisters. Welcome to the second to last Jetsetter of 2012, when we take one last look at the international world of video games in Digital Trends premiere column about the international world of video games. YA HEARD!

* PlayStation 3 hits 30 million sold in Europe.

The Xbox 360 was certainly a success for Microsoft, but even with 70 million sold globally that machine is as American as apple pie. The US is the source of most Xbox sales, while it’s the rest of the world that’s keeping Sony warm at night. Sony also has 70 million HD consoles sold worldwide, and European countries are the source of its delight. As announced on Wednesday, Sony has sold a total of 30 million PlayStation 3s across the UK and continental Europe. “This is a major milestone for us and clearly shows just how popular the PlayStation brand and products are within Europe and PAL territories,” said Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s Jim Ryan, “We are really pleased with the success of the PS3 system over the last six years, and are committed to continuing our support of the platform with high quality products and titles that are of the caliber that PlayStation fans have come to expect.” Cool, SCEE. Now how about convincing Sony Japan Studio to finish The Last Guardian already.

* Russia loves World of Tanks.

Belarus-based developer Wargaming.net is fast becoming a major power in the video game industry. Who’d have thunk it? It’s all thanks to its MMO World of Tanks. People love that World of Tanks. How much? Over the past three years, World of Tanks has racked up a player base of 45 million users. That’s more than two times the number of Gamecube’s Nintendo sold over the course of seven years! The game’s got huge followings across Europe and China, but no one loves World of Tanks as much as Russia. Wargaming reported that 600,000 World of Tanks players in Russia were playing simultaneously on a single server one day this year. That would be like the entire city of Boston playing a single game together at the same time. If that doesn’t blow your mind, nothing will.

* Zynga shuts down its Japanese studio.

A year can change everything. In December 2011, Zynga was the hottest video game company in the world with Farmville still blowing up and the company raking in 12 percent of all the money made on Facebook. Today, the company’s executives keep jumping ship, it’s getting sued for stealing other people’s games, and Facebook has cut off its exclusive agreements with the company. Rough! Zynga’s global operations are contracting as well. Zynga Japan’s CEO Kenji Matsuraba announced on Friday that the studio would be shuttered at the end of January. It’s not all bad news. Zynga Japan’s most popular game, Ayakashi (pictured above), will remain online.