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How Often Do You Change Your Passwords?
Earlier this week, we found out that 10,000 email passwords were leaked and posted online. The number then slowly crept close to 20,000 — until Hotmail disclosed a whopping 100,000 accounts could have been affected.
After hearing the news, I immediately changed the passwords on all of my email accounts.
Geek Tip: Stave Off Social Identity Theft With KnowEm
Needless to say, I have a ton of active social networking accounts out there. Sometimes I even forget which ones I belong to! So when I discovered KnowEm, I was relived to be able to check a plethora of social networking sites for my user name, not only to remind me which sites I have an account with but to also make sure someone isn't going around stealing my moniker or worse — my identity.
Do Security Assurances Make Online Shopping Feel Safer?
I thought everyone was up on what to avoid on the Internet in order to not get scammed, but after an intelligent friend told me she'd fallen for a Nigerian email scam, I didn't balk when I received an email from Neiman Marcus, with the message below.
As a geek, I know not to ever send sensitive personal information requested in an email, but I appreciate that Neiman's is doing this, that is, specifically seeking out their online customers to reassure them that their info is safe and that they will never request this info in an email.
I will continue to be savvy, but I admit that this does make me feel better about online shopping, in the sense that the stores are aware of scams that could involve them.
If Sarah Palin Read geeksugar, She May Have Known Better
I can't tell you enough how important email and online security is! I've been a little obsessed with the recent Sarah Palin email hacking scandal, but have put off saying much about it — until now. The suspected hacker — a 20-year old University of Tennessee student, and son of state representative Mike Kernell — was seen in front of the Grand Jury on Tuesday, and was let go without an indictment.
Do You Still Have a Lame Password?
So remember how last year I told you about the top ten most used and abused passwords? Well, apparently some of you weren't paying attention, cause the list is just as lame (and essentially the same) this year! When I read USA Today's report, I had to chuckle.
Have You Ever Mistrusted the Internet? Part One
CNET's Matt Asay wrote a great article about what he calls the "web's crisis of trust." Basically he says that Internet commerce is not where it could be, because people are scared to make online transactions due to concerns about security. Can you trust a faceless user or retailer with not only your credit card info, but that the product will be what you expected?
How To: Shop Safely Online This Holiday Season
If you are new to online shopping, or plan to make some last-minute online purchases before Christmas, here are some tips to help you along the way.
- Be sure to check out websites like Retail Me Not to see if you can get any discount codes for online orders.
- Make sure your computer is protected from hackers and potential viruses. Keep all your antivirus software up to date, make sure if you have a WiFi connection that it is password protected, and always download the latest security updates for your software and hard drive.
- Only make purchases from well-known, secure websites.
Other Search Results
Key Ring WiFi Finder: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?
You know I've got my iPhone loaded up with a few WiFi finding apps so that I can hop online wherever and whenever, but what if I'm without my trusty smartphone? Hopefully (knock on wood), that will never happen. But if it does, then this little gadget could come in quite handy in a pinch.
Protect Your Info With Your Fingerprint
Although there are other ways to secure your passwords and data that live on your computer — like say a password manager or even (yikes) a notebook — I can't think of a cooler or more futuristic way to protect all your personal info than with your fingerprint.
This Eikon To Go digital privacy manager for your Mac or PC, keeps all your stuff under wraps from prying eyes by locking your laptop, and will only unlock when you put your unique fingerprint on the reader.
But if you aren't the computing on-the-go type, you can also pick up Eikon's desktop fingerprint scanner to lock away all your files at home as well.
Do You Agree With the US Marines' Ban on Social Networking?
One of my oldest friend's husband has been back and forth to Iraq and Afghanistan with the Marine Corps for over two years. They have been using MySpace, Facebook, and a family blog to keep him abreast of what goes on at home, and let him chime in about what his days are like overseas. Although no top-secret information has ever been exchanged, a new Marine Corps order, which goes into effect immediately, bans him from using any social networking site.
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