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More About Password Security
I mentioned in the last issue that I would explain why one should never use the same password at more than one website, and why long, random passwords are necessary. I'll keep it short and simple, with this example:
Let's say you use the username "joesmith@yahoo.com" and your password is "trixie1945." (Your first pet's name and the year you were born.) You feel good that it's a mix of 10 letters and numbers. Now, let's say that through no fault of your own, the website at reallyfunnycatpictures.com gets hacked, and the bad guys get your username and password.
"No big deal," you say. "I have copies of all my funny cat pictures backed up."
But, here's what happens next. The bad guy goes to Yahoo and tries the same username and password. Maybe he goes to hotmail, gmail, iCloud, and elsewhere. Does that password get him in? Uh-Oh. Because now, he is changing the password there, so that he has taken over your email. He's in, and you're out.
Next, he goes to Amazon, PayPal, iTunes, eBay, Schwab, Citi, Capital One, LL Bean, etc., and tries the same password. Does that username and password get him in? Uh-Oh. Because now he's buying stuff and having it shipped all over the place or transferring money.
Or, do you say, "No big deal. I use a different password at those important ones. He won't get in." Or will he?
Here's what happens next: he tells those sites that he "forgot his password," and they then send the reset info to where? To the email site that you're locked out of. Once again, he's in and you're out.
You can avoid a lot of the pain and heartache that goes around on the Internet by using a couple of simple rules:
1. Never use the same password at more than one website.
2. Never use a password shorter than 10 characters.
Yes, it's a pain. And, even if you use a password manager, it's going to be a bit of work.
Why at least 10 random characters? A hacker using a $300 computer part can cycle through 8.2 billion combinations of letters, numbers and characters every second. By using a 10 character mix of upper and lowercase letters and symbols you will have created a password that is one of more than 839,299,365,868,340,000 (839 quadrillion) possibilities. At today's rate, that could take a hacker up to 3.24 years to crack. But use only 9 characters and the time is down to 19 days, and the hackers are getting faster every day. If you use words that are in a dictionary, you make it easier for them. There aren't really that many words, and most of us tend to use the same ones. Organized hackers are working off of a dictionary of more than 60 million words and every time a web site is hacked and a list of passwords is obtained, the hacking world gains even more knowledge of the kinds of passwords we use and how we use them.
In the next newsletter, we'll discuss "Two Factor Authentication" and why you should use it wherever it's offered.
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App of The Month: OnTheFly
iPhone/iPad/Android (Free)
Do you have flexibility when you plan travel that involves flying? If so, you may come to love this free app. Like many others, OnTheFly quickly finds airfares for you from most of the major airlines and presents them in a nice, orderly layout.
But, what makes OnTheFly so special is that instead of getting hit or miss pricing for the dates that you specify, this app allows you to take a different approach. Tell OnTheFly approximately when you want to leave and how long you would like to be gone, and the app will present you with an easy to read chart showing you how airfare for your particular itinerary varies during the month.
In this example, I told OTF that I wanted a round trip from Boston to San Diego, that I wanted to stay 7 nights any time between May 4 and June 4, and that I would fly from Manchester, NH, Boston, or Providence, RI. It showed me that the cheapest flight leaves on Weds. May 28. But, I've decided I want to go on Saturday, 5/31 for slightly more money. On the next page, I choose my flights.
Another thing I really like is that OTF doesn't stand to make commission on this. It simply compiles the info including the fare codes, and let's me then book my flights however I'd like. There are some airlines, Southwest in particular, that are not included in their
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Facebook For Grandparents
Free Group Presentation!
White Collar Handyman offers a free, entertaining and informative 45 minute talk and slide show called "Facebook For Grandparents." It's a presentation that covers the whole range of "social media" opportunities for keeping the older generation connected. If you know of any organization or group that is interested in a fun and informative talk, please put them in touch with me!
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Web & Email Troubleshooting
Sometimes, you can't reach a website you've always been able to get to, or email stops working. Before you panic, get frustrated, or… call me*, try this.
First, check to see if you can reach any web site. If so, chances are good that the website you're trying to reach is down for the moment. Wait a bit and try again. If the problem persists, try going to Down for Everyone and enter the name of the site you're trying to reach. It will tell you whether the problem is yours or the web site. Here's another source: DownRightNow.
When you're having trouble sending or receiving email, it can be a little trickier, but remember this: If you were able to send/receive before, and you can still surf the web - and you have changed nothing in the meantime - it's probably them, not you. If only sending or only receiving is affected, it's probably them, not you. Here's a site that may be helpful to see if your provider is having a problem, but you need to read the comments to see if a reported problem is in your area: DownDetector. Whether DownDetector shows a problem or not, the next step is a call to your Internet Service Provider. And if they swear it's not them, you know where to find me.
*I'm always happy to hear from you. You know what I'm saying ;-)
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Tip of the Month
Why not get into the habit of changing just two or three of your oldest Internet passwords each week? Schedule it in as a repeating Monday morning or Friday afternoon ToDo. It will take only a few minutes and at the end of the year you'll have changed over 100 - 150 passwords. Keeping your passwords long, random and somewhat fresh are the keys to better Internet security these days. Not spending interminable hours on it every few months is a key to a happier (Internet) life. Not doing it at all is giving the keys to the crooks.
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