I was shocked to receive an email from a client this morning. Apparently she was on vacation in Spain, had been mugged, and needed me to send money so she could return home. I was shocked not because of the situation, but because I had just spoken to her 6 hours before from her home in Florida. Yes, as you suspect, her AOL account had been hacked. You don't know how many friends you have until you're hacked. Everyone in her address book received the desperate sounding email, many figured it out. It's so embarrassing to have to explain. I'm sure she wishes there was some way to take it all back. Well, there is.

What to do if you suspect you've been hacked

Contact your account provider by phone or visit their security support page. AOL password support at 1-888-797-3738 or visit the AOL Account and Computer Security page. For Facebook support, visit the Facebook Security Take Action page. At the very least it requires a password change.

How to Prevent Account Hacking

The first line of defense is good locks, locked all the time. Here are tips you can use to avoid public humiliation:

• Develop Strong Passwords - Visit the Microsoft Instant Answers to learn how.
• Never Use the Same Password Twice - A single password is like master key, it gives a hacker immediate access to all your valuable places.
• Store Passwords Securely - Leverage technology to hide your passwords in a Splash ID digital safe.
• Shut the Door Behind You - Because most of us work in the Cloud using online apps, always log out to prevent unauthorized access.
• Pay Attention - Checking bank transactions online makes perfect sense. Extend a watchful eye to your sent items folder to check for messages you didn't send.