Bolstering online security to thwart hackers

HOUSTON – The massive theft of over a billion email accounts by a Russian hacker gang has Internet security experts scrambling, and ordinary online users wondering what they can do to protect themselves.

The first thing people can do is change their passwords. Programs like Last Pass generate intensely difficult passwords that are harder to hack. It also keeps track of user names and passwords, to allow automatic login.

Password Genie is another secure password manager. It stores and secures passwords on PC and Mac computers, as well as Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

Dashlane is another option. It comes with form filler, generates secure passwords and has a very easy-to-use interface. Like the others there are free and premium versions.