We all should know that decent passwords are all that stand between us and a potential security incident. Yet many people end up infected with a virus or with a massive credit card bill because they failed to follow the basics of password security. Here are the 10 things that people keep getting wrong, and ways to make sure you get them right.
If a new study by the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory is correct, most of your ATM or debit card PINs are either “1111″ or “1234″. You may think it’s OK because someone would need physical access to your card to use the PIN, right? Wrong. Here’s why you should change your PIN right away, and some hacks to help you remember your new one.
If you use desktop password manager app 1Password, this hidden shortcut may make you feel incredibly warm and happy inside: drag a login from 1Password to your browser’s bookmark bar and you’ve now got a single-click bookmark login.
There are plenty of services that promise to keep your passwords safe, secure and synchronised across devices behind a single master password that you can remember, but Dashlane is a new service that does that, audits those passwords for strength, saves your form information for quick entry on new websites and even keeps track of the purchases you make with that information so you can see it all in one view — one that’s only available to you, not even Dashlane employees.
Windows/iOS/Android: Symantec is getting in on the cloud-based password management business with the launch of Norton Identity Safe, a new desktop and mobile password management service opening its beta to the public today.
The latest update to our favourite password-storing and syncing tool LastPass allows you to import and export your Wi-Fi passwords and store them as a secure note in the software. Normally your Wi-Fi passwords are only stored on your computer, but if you want to sync them between machines, or be able to look them up from any internet-connected device, you’ll now be able to do that.
The internet can bring you a lot of joy, but it can also turn into a world of pain the moment you make one stupid mistake. Perhaps you’ve been feeding the trolls, using “password” as your password, or selling your soul for access to a “free” web app. Your dumb mistakes can come back to bite you in the arse if you aren’t careful. Here’s how you can save yourself from yourself online.
Mac: If you’ve been shying away from popular online password managers like LastPass due to security concerns, Aussie developer Ergun Coruh has a simple solution that gives you total control of where your passwords are stored. MiniBluebox is a drag-and-drop system that gives you everything you need in a password manager, including 512-bit encryption, synchronisation and more.
It seems like every day there’s fresh news of a site or service being hacked. The intruders make off with usernames and passwords, and even if they’re encrypted the service forces users to change them. Here’s how you can fight back and avoid hassles when the next hack happens.
Parenting is a high-wire act, especially when it comes to kids and cybersecurity. You want to respect teens’ growing need for privacy but need access to all information in case of emergency. One solution? Let an old-fashioned piggy bank maintain the trust.
