SEATTLE - The internet is the source of a lot of legal gray area, but when it comes to snooping, courts say you shouldn't open another person's e-mail.

Island County prosecutors just tried - and won - a case against a man who accessed his ex-girlfriend's computer without permission.

Legal analyst Karen Russell says a lot of cyber-snoopers are breaking the law.

"They probably don't know that they are... they probably technically are," she said.

Gaining unauthorized access to someone else's computer system or database is a gross misdemeanor in Washington. It shoots up to a felony if a person gained access to someone's computer system with the intent to commit another crime.

So what's the best way to protect yourself from cyber-snoopers?

A computer specialist with the state Attorney General's office explains what not to do:

"The most commonly used password is the word 'password,'" said Rebecca Henderson, a computer investigative specialist for the Attorney General. "Bad idea. That's definitely a bad idea."

Henderson says people tend to use passwords that are easy for others to guess, like a family member or pet's name. And you know those secret questions you can answer to have your password sent if you've forgotten it? If someone knows enough about you, they can easily answer the questions and get your password.

This is where a wrong answer is right.

"You could choose a wrong answer that you specifically know is wrong," Henderson said.

Perhaps the best advice of all: Never think of e-mail correspondence as confidential correspondence.

"Don't e-mail something or look at someone's e-mail if you don't want to show up on the front page of the newspaper... or KING 5," Henderson said.