I have been reading about Google Plus on the Web and really want to sign up for an account. How do I create an account for myself on this new service?

We're getting into social media a bit late and just found out that someone else has registered our trademarked product name as their Twitter handle. They're not using the account, but they also aren't responding to queries from us about switching ownership. We don't want to pay anything - after all, it's our registered trademark! - but will cover a minimal fee. What can we do?

Okay, so I turned on 2-step verification, which is cool, but now I can't log in to my Google Voice app on my iPhone. This is not good, Dave. How do I fix it??

I hear that there's a new security system you can enable on Google Gmail and the rest of the Google suite that requires you to have your smart phone along with your password? What's the security system called [ed note: "2-step verification"] and how can I use it for my own account?

I'm paranoid about passwords and now that there are more stories of password and account data circulating I want to change everything! But I can't figure out Skype. How do I change my Skype account?

I'm becoming a bit paranoid, but I'm sure someone else is logging in to my Facebook account and messing with things, deleting some of my Wall postings, etc. Nothing obvious, but just weird things going on. Can I figure out if someone's actually tapping into my account?

Every week or two I end up on a Web site, within an app, or otherwise clicking on a button to authorize the program gaining access to my Facebook account. I'm realizing that over time, this is a major threat to the security of my data and therefore to my privacy. If an app I approved six months ago still has access to what I'm doing on Facebook, well, that can't be good! How do I check to see what's authorized, and axe applications and programs I no longer want touching my Facebook profile?

I use paperless billing to save on mailing costs, but would really like to have copies of my bills directly on my computer. My concern is that it's a lot of confidential data if I were to ever lose my laptop. Is there a way to save those PDF reports in a way that requires a password to read them?

I often find myself using public computer systems at Internet Cafes or public libraries to check on my Facebook account while I'm on the road (especially overseas) and after hearing some horror stories about keystroke recorders and stolen accounts, I'm rethinking my strategy. What would be awesome is if there were some sort of temporary or one-time use password I could use to log in to my Facebook account. Do they have something like that available?

I know how everyone talks about Facebook being a "walled garden" and all that, but am I right that there's now a way you can actually download all your personal information from the Facebook site? I'd love to do that so I have a backup of my account, friend lists, etc, so any help you can offer would be terrific, Dave!

Holy cow, I just got an email receipt from Apple's iTunes Store for $250 worth of music downloads that I never bought. I'm freaking out: I can't afford this! What's my recourse? Has someone stolen my credit card info??

Hi, my name is Lori and my friend, Pegah, has found out that her hotmail account has sent out emails to all of her contacts without her knowing. The email says: "Hey How are you doing? I ordered a white 3GS Apple iPhone from a good website -- [[link removed]] -- much cheaper but brand new and genuine! You can check it if you would like. Cheers".

What can she do to stop this?

She is scared to use her computer right now and so I am emailing for her. She said that the last time she used her hotmail was Wed, March 10th. She was not asked for her password today when she tried to go into it. Please help - she is really worried. I received the above email from Pegah to my Yahoo account and the date shown was Thurs, March 11th @ 10:28PM.

I'm concerned about an email I just got from Amazon.com saying that an order I'd placed had been cancelled, but I haven't placed an order for months. Did someone break into my account that I got the message "Amazon.com - Your Cancellation (2706-81146-4342895)"

Kind of a weird request, but I'm wondering if there's a way to minimize my logins when I'm at an Internet Café so that I can log in to one service, like Gmail, and be automatically logged in to Facebook?

I was trying to buy a plane ticket online and bumped into something called the DHS TRIP. I once had some problems at airport security when the TSA people found a match for my name on one of their watch lists, and understand it's a way for me to avoid that problem in the future, but can you explain how it works, Dave?

Many people have their computer unprotected by a password, so that when you turn on the computer, Windows loads up automatically without the user having to type any password to gain access to the computer. If you decide you want to put a password on the computer after all, here's how to do it.

I swear someone's logging into my Google Gmail account and reading my email. I know it should be impossible, but I dunno. Is there some way to check and see if that's happening?

After two of my friends had information stolen from them through public wireless networks, I'm completely paranoid. Is there some way to connect to Google's Gmail service securely?

Seems like not a week goes by without some sort of story in the paper about a computer security breech, identity theft, or scams or other rip-offs. It's enough to make one avoid shopping online, except that it's so darn convenient! What's your opinion? Should I avoid shopping online entirely, or are there tips you can offer on how to stay safe while still going to the virtual mall?

Dave, I know that identity theft is a problem, but someone told me the other day that there are five major kinds of Identity theft. Then they got busy with something, and it left me confused. Isn't identity theft just identity theft?

I am anxious that I've been a victim of identity fraud: I just got an email from some mortgage broker indicating that I'd been approved for a refinance of our home, but I didn't apply for anything like that! I figure it's some scam, but they showed the amount of our original home loan and that's made me jumpy. Am I a victim or what?

Hey Dave! How does secure SSL actually work and if all these sites are using this much vaunted https/SSL security, how come they still get customer data ripped off?

Okay, I'm a bit puzzled. I just got an email from a Web site I've never heard of before asking me for my birthday so my "friend" can complete "their horoscope", but I have no idea who "they" are. Is this legit email or should I be suspicious of this sort of solicitation for personal information?