Picking a good password:
(Google.com) Creating a unique password
helps stop someone from breaking into your Google account. Here are a few tips for creating a good password . . .
Choosing a smart password
(Official Gmail Blog) -Posted by Michael Santerre, Consumer Operations Associate - As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you about smart password practices. Help ensure you're protecting your computer, website, and personal information by checking out our security series on the Google blog - -
More >>.
You are not alone!
- Tools & Resources at Stay Safe Online - Cybersecurity and creating a safe computing environment for families, small businesses and others is a national priority. The government, industry, academic institutions and nonprofits groups across the country are concerned about and engaged in cyber
security issues. There is a great deal of research and information about threats and trends, and tools to help you.
Learn more about how to protect passwords. The easier a password is for the owner to remember generally means it will be easier for an attacker to guess. Passwords which are difficult to remember will reduce the security of a system because (a) users might need to write down or electronically store the password, (b) users will need frequent password resets and (c) users are more likely to re-use the same password. Similarly, the more stringent requirements for password strength, e.g. "have a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters and digits" or "change it monthly", the greater the degree to which users will subvert the system.
Read more at Wikipedia >>
How to choose a strong password - simple tips for better security
Sophos's Graham Cluley explains a simple way of creating a complex
hard-to-guess password - and how you should never use the same password
on different sensitive websites.
Dating safety Don't let them steal more than your heart (ARA) - When your grandparents started dating, chances are they knew
each other already or had mutual friends. In those days, a blind date -
going out with someone you hadn't met or knew nothing about - was a
rarity.
Today, with the boom in online dating, going on first dates with
strangers is commonplace, while dating a friend seems like the
"old-fashioned" approach. Plenty of people find love online every year,
but when you're dating a stranger, it's important to take steps to
ensure the only thing they steal is your heart. Online dating, and other
forms of blind dating, require extra caution to protect your personal
information from those who might use it without your permission.
Joining one or more dating websites can be a great way to meet people
you might enjoy spending time with. More >>
Password Guidelines - Keep it secret, Keep it safe
- Choosing the right password is something that many
people find difficult, there are so many things that
require passwords these days that remembering them all
can be a real problem. Perhaps because of this a lot of
people choose their passwords very badly.
Want some help choosing a password?
Password checker at Microsoft.com - Check your password—is it strong? Your online accounts, computer files, and personal information are more secure when you use strong passwords to help protect them.
Yahoo News (password hacked)
How to fight phishing once you've
been hooked - (ARA) - As using the Internet becomes an
increasingly personalized experience, it is now common practice for
users to submit sensitive personal information to unlock access to a
wide variety of services. Unfortunately, though most users exercise
caution when offering such information in online spaces, there are still
countless numbers of people who fall victim to sophisticated phishing
scams every day through common email and instant messaging services. More >>
What security breaches mean for your
personal information - (ARA) - Recent headline-grabbing data
breaches left the information of millions of people exposed. While
having your personal identifiable information compromised in a data
breach is disconcerting, it does not necessarily mean that you are or
will become a victim of identity theft. However, Equifax, one of the
nation's major credit reporting agencies recommends taking the following
four steps. More >>
How to protect your PC when you're on
the road - (ARA) - The busy summer travel season is quickly
approaching and you'll want to take your PC with you on all your
adventures, wherever they might take you. Here are few tips and tricks
to prepare your PC and help keep it safe no matter where you go. It's a
bumpy road Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, keep your PC
in a computer bag. More >>
Fight cyber crime with cyber smarts
- (ARA) - Every month the FBI-affiliated Internet Crime Complaint Center
receives 25,000 complaints from identity theft to online scams, and
everyone is a potential victim. But you can take action. Gary McAlum,
chief security officer at USAA, a leading financial services provider,
offers some simple tips to help protect you against cyber attacks and
says that financial services companies are stepping up their efforts to
protect consumers. More >>
Don't let computer failure cause you
to fail college - (ARA) - When Zoe Friend, a student at
Brooklyn's Pratt Institute, discovered her computer had crashed, she
lost a term paper that was due in just a few days. Two months of work
had vanished. She told her professor at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute what
had happened, but his response was: "This is the new version of 'the dog
ate my homework.' It's your responsibility to back up your work." Like
most students, Friend had never thought about backing up data, so she
had to live with a bad grade. More >>
Identity theft protection tips for mobile
device users - (ARA) - If you use complex passwords for your
online accounts, have a firewall on your PC's Internet connection and
only shop at secure websites, you may think you're doing a good job
protecting yourself from identity theft. Those precautions are a good
start, but don't overlook another important opportunity for identity
thieves - your mobile devices. Millions of Americans access the Internet
and social media every day with handheld devices, from smart phones to
tablets. More >>
