GeekSugar

How Often Do You Change Your Passwords?

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:44:13 -0700

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. Thankfully most of you have super-secure passwords (and if you don't, here's how to create a secure one), but sadly even a secure password is vulnerable when leaked.

After rushing to change my password, I realized I hadn't changed it in nearly a year. I'm also guilty of using the same passwords for multiple sites and applications. And, I'll admit I'm guilty of using an overused password now and then. I set a reminder on my calendar to change my passwords every three months, and hopefully I'll stick to it. What about you?

Geek Tip: Stave Off Social Identity Theft With KnowEm

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:50:55 -0700

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.

KnowEm makes it easy to stay on top of user name squatters and identity stealers and is a quick way to jog your memory about which sites you belong to so you can delete, cancel, or bookmark those for future use. I sometimes get weirded out about how many open accounts I've forgotten about which are ripe for a hacker's picking, so keeping tabs on your online accounts is a good idea for all.

Do Security Assurances Make Online Shopping Feel Safer?

GeekSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:30:39 -0700

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. What about you?

If Sarah Palin Read geeksugar, She May Have Known Better

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:00:44 -0700

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. Although there aren't many details as to what was or was not found, I suspect that the search for the real hacker continues.

Although hacking into anyone's personal account is a violation of the law and should be prosecuted accordingly, what really makes me uncomfortable is knowing how easy it was for the hacker to break into her account! Just by guessing a few password reset questions and some research on Wikipedia, they were in. I've talked in length about protecting your log-ins, but it's only a few security questions that separate hackers from your personal email when a password reset has been requested. Be diligent in keeping those questions and passwords hard to guess, and you won't have to worry about your emails displayed on the web, or your identity being stolen!

Source

Do You Still Have a Lame Password?

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:33 -0700

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. "Abc123," really? "Password," are you kidding - have you not learned a thing?

All joking aside, someone could do some major damage to your personal records if they just so happen to figure out that your password is "qwerty" (like it's hard) and you use it for everything from online banking, to your Myspace log in, email, and online credit card accounts. You don't have to tell me what it is, but admit it: you still have a lame password. Any savvy geek should have a pretty complicated password for Joe Schmo to figure out so he doesn't go on a buying rampage and take that trip to Fiji you've always dreamed of. . . on your dollar!

Source

Have You Ever Mistrusted the Internet? Part One

GeekSugar — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:14:00 -0800

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?

Asay cites eBay, which uses their feedback system to regulate "trust" instead of high-level rules and regulations. I use eBay all the time, but I would bet that every one of us was hesitant to use eBay at first, because you think you're going to get screwed.

It's not just retailers we fear - what about Craigslist? When I moved to San Francisco, I used it to find roommates, a job, and furniture online. My family was scandalized that I used this impersonal web board to meet up with people - claiming that I didn't know what kind of weirdos were on there. Well I do know those weirdos, because now they're my friends, former roommates, coworkers, etc.

I often muse that if I had suffered from this "crisis of trust" with Craigslist, I wouldn't have what I do now. So, tell me, has a crisis of trust with the Internet ever kept you from buying or doing anything you found there?

Source

How To: Shop Safely Online This Holiday Season

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:50:30 -0800

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. If the site looks sketchy, it probably has sketchy people running it. Follow your gut intuition.
Ensure your payment goes through a secure page.

Source and Source

GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:23:17 -0800

GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Sugar Publishing, Inc. (owner and operator of geeksugar.com), having an address of 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 (“Sponsor”).

ELIGIBILITY:
Open only to permanent legal U.S. residents physically residing in the fifty (50) United States of America and the District of Columbia. Employees of Sponsor and its respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies and any other entity involved in the development or administration of this Contest, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible to participate in or win the Contest. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and complete relevant tax forms as a condition to the delivery of the applicable prize. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

HOW TO ENTER:
No purchase is necessary to participate in the Contest. To enter, you must log into your profile at geeksugar.com or any PopSugar Network site (or register for a profile at http://www.onsugar.com/user/register), then join the Cool Capture group and share your image, the model of camera used to take the photo, and a short description about the image (see also detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups ) between 12:00am PDT on Monday, November 23, 2009 and 11:59pm PST on Sunday, December 6, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void. Normal time, toll, connection and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider will apply. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.
By registering and entering your photo(s), you will be agreeing that your registration and any other information collected in connection with the Contest may be used by Sponsor in accordance with Sugar Publishing, Inc.’s Privacy Policy and may be shared with Sponsor’s affiliated business entities, and that you automatically opt-in to receive email, text messages or other communications from Sponsor. You may subsequently opt-out of the receipt of such email or communications by following the directions in the email, communications or by contacting Sponsor directly.
All registrations must include entrant's valid email address. The email address provided by online entrants will be the identity of the entrant and, if selected for a prize, the identity of the winner. We expressly reserve the right to disqualify any entries that we believe in good faith are generated by an automated program or via scripts. By participating, all entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules.
SELECTION:
GeekSugar editors will select their top ten (10) entries from the photos submitted to the Cool Capture group as described on the entry page between between 12:00am PDT on Monday, November 23, 2009 and 11:59pm PST on Sunday, December 6, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). The top ten (10) entries will then be posted for PopSugar community members to vote on their favorite photo. The photo with the most votes during the voting period will be the winner. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s PopSugar community account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

PRIZES:
At the end of the Entry Period, there will be one (1) Grand Prize winner who will be awarded the grand prize of up to one (1) CanvasPop print of their choice, including all prints less then or equal in value to the 36x54,1.5” gallery wrap print (retail value: $329). Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Contest. All prizes will be awarded. In no event shall the Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of prizes stated in these Official Contest Rules. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize. To receive a complete list of winners or a copy of the Official Contest Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Prize Fulfillment, Sugar Inc., 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. Specify winner's list or rules on your request.
Please allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery.

SELECTION:
The winning entry will be determjned by user voting after a selection of 10 final entries is made by our editors. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s teamsugar.com account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected based on the final user vote ranking. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected based on the final user vote ranking. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be void. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES:
An entrant or winner may be disqualified from the Contest if he or she fails to comply with each provision of these Official Contest Rules, as determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Participation in the Contest is at entrant’s own risk. Sponsor shall not be liable for 1) failed, returned or misdirected notifications based on inaccurate information provided by the winner on the contest entry form, 2) entries and responses to winner notifications which are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, damaged or otherwise not received by the intended recipient in whole or in part or for computer or technical error of any kind, 3) any electronic miscommunications or failures, technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant's ability to participate in the Contest, 4) any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer on-line system, computer equipment, software, program malfunctions or other failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human, mechanical or technical in nature, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any part of this Contest or 5) any warranty of fitness or merchantability of any prize or the function or operation thereof, which shall be the sole responsibility of the manufacturer of the prize. Sponsor does not make any, and hereby disclaim any and all, representations or warranties of any kind regarding any prize. Unless prohibited by applicable law, your entry constitutes your permission to use your name, photograph, likeness, voice, address (city and state) and testimonials in all media, in perpetuity, in any manner Sponsor deems appropriate for publicity purposes without any further compensation to such entrant. By entering or accepting a prize in the Contest, winners agree to be bound by these Official Contest Rules and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. When applicable, the winner (or, if the winner is a minor, the winner's parent or legal guardian) may be required to execute and return to Sponsor within ten (10) business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to furnish proof of identity, address and birth date in order to receive a prize.
By entering, an entrant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated entities, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and representatives from any damage, injury, death, loss, claim, action, demand, or other liability (collectively, “Claims”) that may arise from their acceptance, possession and/or use of any prize or their participation in this promotion, or from any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded, regardless of whether such Claims, or knowledge of the facts constituting such Claims, exist at the time of entry or arise at any time thereafter. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Contest will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Contest Rules in any way or at any time. Sponsor reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this Contest should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. In the event of cancellation or suspension, Sugar shall promptly post a notice on the Contest entry page to such effect. This Contest shall be governed by California law. By participating in this contest, entrants agree that California courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Contest and that venue shall be only in San Francisco, California.

Protect Your Info With Your Fingerprint

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:30:35 -0800

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. The best part? The mobile manager is only $50 dollars. It's the perfect gift for the business traveler that really needs some protection - of the digital kind, of course.

Key Ring WiFi Finder: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?

GeekSugar — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:56:47 -0700

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.

Called the WiFi Seeker and Light, this keyring attachment is always there when you need to find a signal. With a push of one button, it shines a small LED light so you can find your way in the dark, and the other tells you the strength of any surrounding wireless signals. I tested it, and it does actually know when there's a wireless signal. Now if it would just tell you the security password so you can actually use them, I'd call it a miracle! I couldn't find the exact one online if you wanted to get one for yourself, but there are a few choices on Amazon.