The best ways to avoid cyber scams in your city

(ARA) - It's something you've probably done - sign online and check your bank statement or make a purchase. But when you connect to your wireless Internet service, are you cautious of cyber scams? In 2009, cyber scams resulted in $560 million in losses, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center's 2009 Annual Report. It's quite a jump from $265 million in losses in 2008. So before you submit your social security number or credit card information, follow these tips for avoiding cyber scams:

Don't purchase on an unsecure network - If you think it's harmless to use your neighbor's wireless connection to shop online, think again. Surfing on unsecure wireless Internet connections is one of the easiest ways for hackers to access your personal information. Some scammers are so advanced, they can track every keystroke you make. It's important to get online using a password-protected, secure Internet connection.

Check your city's cyber crime rating - A recent study from Symantec's Norton product group ranked cities where people are at the greatest risk for becoming cyber crime victims. The study compared all U.S. cities and looked at the number of Wi-Fi hotspots and how often the population made online purchases, checked personal finances and sent e-mails. The five cities with the highest risk for cyber crimes were Seattle, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Raleigh, N.C.

Be wary of free Wi-Fi - If you head to the local coffee shop because of the "Free Wi-Fi" sign plastered in the window, you may want to think twice. Symantec's study also found that cities with more access to free Wi-Fi were at a higher risk for Internet scams.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to get around it. CLEAR 4G, a high-speed Internet provider, turns entire cities into wireless hotspots. So instead of getting unsecure Wi-Fi at a local coffee shop, you plug the CLEAR USB modem into your laptop and surf on a completely safe network. You can even use the technology to get high-speed Internet on a bus, in a cab or at the park. The On-The-Go Internet service is changing the way people get online - and making it a safer experience, too.

Create clever passwords - Creating a unique password is easy. But do you use the same password across all your favorite Web sites? If so, you're putting yourself at serious risk. Once a hacker figures out one of your passwords, they'll likely visit numerous sites including Gmail, Yahoo and banking sites to try and access more of your information. Use unique passwords for every site and keep a master list so you can keep track of each one and make changes if your computer is ever at risk.

Don't become a statistic in 2010. Take proper precautions before you submit personal information over the Internet. And if you regularly access high-speed Internet when you leave the house, choose a provider like CLEAR Internet, so you're guaranteed a secure connection.

Courtesy of ARAcontent