There are many rules about passwords that you may already know. These rules are now often forced upon you when creating them (ex. “Your password must contain at least one number, capital letter, the name of a non-crayola color…”). I don’t usually spend much of my time being paranoid about every aspect of computer security, but some recent research has helped me look at passwords from a different angle.
I will start with my standard password speech. To make it easy I recommend using a password that is a word or phrase that you will never forget where you replace some of the letters with numbers that are similar to them. For instance you could pick your favorite flowers, petunias, and make it p37un1as. You can also add a capital letter at the beginning and symbols to make it more secure, P37un1@s!. Because it is still based on the word you will not forget you simply have to remember which characters you replaced and should be able to figure it out in a few tries. Making it something you remember will also prevent you from writing it down and hopefully not affixing it to your computer.
What I have noticed recently is that if you have one of these nicely made passwords you are going to use it everywhere so you are nice and safe all the while remembering how to get into all of these various places online. Wrong! Have you ever noticed that secure sites like banks and stores have that whole ‘Secure Authentication’ thing. Well the whole reason behind that is when you type any information into your web browser, like passwords, it will be encrypted into a lump then sent over the Internet to its appropriate destination where it is decrypted and verified. This prevents interceptions of this sensitive data between point A and B because all they will get is the lump and not even know what it is let alone want to spend a bunch of time molding it into letters and numbers. So if you use the same password on insecure transmissions (non-lumping sites) there is a chance of interception and what is stopping this entity from trying this new shiny bit of information on the other sites you visit.
Ok, new rule, make different security levels. All the passwords can still be nice letter/number/symbol glyphs as mentioned earlier, but you can make separate passwords depending on how important/secure the sites are. Banks/Credit Card type sites with the most secure multi-word abscure personal fact type. Utilities and ‘Just paying a bill’ sites having a normal 7+ character word with at least 1 number and a capital. Finally a junk password for social networking, forums, coupon clubs, fan sites, etc.
Some of the most secure sites like banks have a new optional feature where they can send you a message on your cell phone each time you login from a new or cookie-cleaned computer. This is a great feature because your password and your phone would both have to be compromised to login to this bank. (Don’t store your password in your phone 
)
Start changing those passwords. Change passwords as often as you can. Think of it like a game. Every time you see a news story about identity theft or a blog about password security, update those passwords.
S7r@w83rry-F13ld2-F0r3v3r!
Here are some links:
Microsoft Password Checker
Verisign – How SSL Works
Special discounts on Norton software.
Posted in Home Computing, Internet - No Comments
If you didn’t already know, Windows Vista has a built in Internet filter to block unwanted web garbage from the little one’s eyes. I recommend turning this on and having a separate user on the computer for this age group. You should put a password on the adult account and leave the filtered account limited and easy to access.
The way most web protection filter’s work is they cross reference each location that appears in the browser with a rating database. It is not just good and bad anymore. You are able to set up a level of the filter to allow only child approved sites, block only adult sites, or something in between including a DYI blacklist.
There are many people out there that don’t know this setting exists or don’t worry because the users of their computer have good judgment. What I am recommending is turn this feature on for everyone. Make sure it does not block the sites you wish to travel to and you can leave access to the unrated sites because it could be a new weather or news site you are blocking. Set users on the computer based on access restriction. Block the youngest ones from the social sites and keep them viewing the places you want them to go. Give the older ones the same access you have allowed them in the past but choose to restrict what you know to be off limits. Even on your account click on the most lenient filter if you must, but remember you can always disable the filter if there is a particular site you need to view.
What are you talking about Rich? I don’t need limits. I am a grown adult!
There are many reasons to filter today’s Internet viewing. Even the top name security programs are starting to have ‘Safe Web’ and ‘Safe Search’ features. The sites that are being blocked through this massive list of no no’s are not just grown eyes only sites. These sites could be malicious spyware sites, scams, unwanted advertisements, or even fake sites that promise the content you are looking for and then deliver nada. When you travel to these sites your judgment is keen and you go back to the next result, but during that brief visit there could have been attack on your browser for spyware, malware, virus, or even hijack. With the filter enabled you are given a warning when the site is blocked allowing you to think again before entering and most of the time just go to that next result without hesitation. Same thing with the kids and their spaces and faces. They see ads for things like “Make money testing Chewing Gum” and “Free Pink Pony Laptop!”. Its not that they have bad judgment, but that their curiosity on a seemingly harmless ad could end up junking up your machine. I am not saying that your expensive protection software that you renew yearly isn’t doing its job. Just there are some more little things you can do to prevent annoyances and take control of what you and your family are exposed to on today’s web.
Here are some links:
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Many still believe that each computer system needs every attachment and accessory for that workstation to complete the tasks it has been purchased to do. There are ways to save time, space, and money that are now much more affordable. Networks are not just for office buildings anymore.
With the drastic increase in broadband coverage and the drop in technology prices, networking equipment for the home is mass produced and more affordable than ever. Powerful home networks already exist in broadband connected homes everywhere. These networks can be used for more than just sharing the plentiful internet connection.
In this article I am going to touch on some of the advantages of networking the different kinds of retail printers. There are basic printers with just a USB connection, wired network capable, wireless capable, and bluetooth printers. A common misconception is that you need to purchase a wireless printer (more expensive) to print wirelessly from a laptop. As long as the printer is connected to the network there are options to print wirelessly even if it is not a wireless printer. In fact if you would like to have your printer in the same area as your broadband connection and router I recommend to use the wired network connection for a faster, interference free link. It is the computer you are printing from that needs to be wireless to print over the network from the couch, not the printer. Granted there are some situations where the wireless printer would be preferred as if you need to put the printer on the opposite wall from the router and would like to eliminate running wires around the room or if you would like to put the printer in a more centrally located area because your new found ability to share this printer has family members coming from all reaches of the house to gather their prints. If you have an older printer that just has the usb connection you still can print wirelessly, but it requires some configuration to share the printer across the network from the computer to which it is attached. Aside from the extra configuration, another negative would be that the attached computer or host would have to be powered on and functioning for the wireless clients to print. Bluetooth connected printers can be shared in a similar manner where the host would have to be on and within the bluetooth pairing range to the printer for others to print.
The overall advantages to networking your existing or purchasing a network capable printer in my opinion are costs. In the past consumers would attempt to purchase all the same printers to only have to buy one type of ink cartridge. Networking solves this by all users sharing one set of ink. With the rise of ink prices and the lowering of printer prices a household can wait untill all of the ink is depleted in the various printers around the house (may only be one or two). Calculate the cost of replacing all that ink and use that amount to purchase a new networkable printer that comes with some ink. Also, it seems as though there is a trend that the higher price the printer is the lower the cost per page on ink it runs. Sharing one slightly more expensive multifunction printer will save on overall ink purchases in this way. Even the amount of household clutter can be reduced by having that many less printers and desks to put them on. Some laptop users may remove the desk from the picture all together.
There is a good chance you can do more with the technology you already have…
RSL Tech may be the place you finally learn how.
Posted in networking - 1 Comment
