And you have more than one password right? If you don’t, you should…seriously…good security starts with good passwords that you change regularly. Today, I came across a site that will demonstrate how weak or strong your password based on the average time it would take to crack your password. It will either scare the heck out of you or it… Read More »How good are your passwords?
We use passwords to log into web sites continuously through the day. Your passwords should be long and complicated, but that makes them tough to type in accurately on the first try (since password fields are masked with dots or asterisks). Or, if you are using a netbook or mobile phone, the combination of a small keyboard and longer passwords can… Read More »How to type in your password correctly the FIRST time – Video Tip
One common problem I help solve every day is the recovery of passwords. For some reason, tracking passwords and usernames becomes a daunting task for most computer users. The advice I dispense most often when asked how to track all of the usernames and passwords we accumulate these days is to simply write it down. Not just anywhere, however, but… Read More »Start your password tracking system today!
If you accidentally told Firefox or Chrome to save a password for a site that you didn’t intend to save the password and login information, this tip will instruct you how to find the site and delete its login information so that you have to manually type it in each time you visit the site. Saving login information for sites… Read More »How to delete a site that has a saved password
Due to many circumstances, busy scheduling, and a couple of short trips, I have been noticeably absent from posting new articles here at HelpMeRick.com the last few months. Thanks for continuing to search for and use the information found within these virtual walls to help make your computer life just a little easier. During these past few weeks, I have… Read More »Longest hiatus is over
We are bringing this tip out of the archives because remembering passwords and having strong passwords is more important than ever with increased identity theft and the increased amount of business we conduct over the web.
I have accumulated nearly ninety user names and passwords for various email services, web sites, banking sites, etc. Without my password tracking software, I wouldn’t be able to remember them all or, I would be using the same user name and password for every instance (an extremely dangerous practice). You can use software solutions to securely save passwords on your computer or Read More »Password Mania
Identity theft is becoming an enormous problem in the United States and worldwide. Identity theft involves the misuse of your personal information to fraudulently purchase goods, services or open accounts to purchase good and services.
According to a FTC report, identity theft cost victims, businesses and financial institutions $500 billion in 2003. The average victim spent more than 75 hours cleaning up their name and accounts at an average loss of more than $11,000.
Contrary to popular opinion, most identity theft results from stolen mail, stolen wallets or purses, trash rummaging or the victim falling prey to a scam, not online shopping. In fact online shopping with reputable dealers is safer, in many respects, than shopping in your own city. Of course, most retailers operate safe businesses and have reputable employees, but the ever increasing reality is that we must be careful with our personal information.
I’ve written many times about passwords and their importance in keeping you safe online. Search the site for passwords to read them and also take a look at this article from the Gmail Blog at Google. Official Gmail Blog: Choosing a smart password.
Once again, the main stream media sensationalizes a story by inserting scary prose. Yes, Twitter had an attack of their computers this week. Yes, sensitive documents were stolen. But NO, this was not a major breach of Twitter user accounts. And No, this does not mean online accounts are inherently unsafe.
I think Twitter founder, Biz Stone, summed up the situation best in this statement:Read More »Password Problem at Twitter
If you do any online shopping and/or banking, user name and passwords have infiltrated your life. Many of my customers can easily knock one-half hour or more off their bill if they kept track of their passwords. I get many blank stares when I'm troubleshooting a machine and need to log into an Internet service or web site and I ask the customer for their password. Often times I receive the classic, "I don't have a password."
Everyone has a password for email, their bank, any other online service you might sign up for be it banking or a community forum.