GeekSugar

Protect Your Info With Your Fingerprint

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:30:35 PST

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.

Password Reminder Book Kinda Makes Me Nervous

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:30:45 PDT

I came across this Open Sesame Password Reminder Book on Outblush yesterday, and at first I was like, "That's kinda cute," but then after more consideration, I realized it probably isn't a good idea. Here's why: Security! Remember how I was telling you about how important it is to have complex passwords, or possibly run the risk of someone ruining your personal record, or worse, stealing your identity? All that is out the window if someone gets a hold of your password reminder book. Unless I kept it under strict lock and key, I would be a nervous wreck thinking about what would happen if I lost it.

But, of course, if I lost the key, I'd be totally screwed.Maybe it's a better idea to keep your passwords in a protected file in your computer, or better yet, a secure password storage device!

Do You Still Have a Lame Password?

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:33 PDT

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

The Most Used and Abused Passwords On The Net

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:00:09 PDT

This list is surprising and shocking at the same time - do people honestly think these passwords are safe to use? They may be easy to remember, but in terms of being secure and difficult to crack- not so much. This list, which appeared in the May 8th edition of PC Magazine shows the 10 most commonly used online passwords, none of which surprised me. Although monkey- Am I too geeky to get this one?

password
123456
qwerty
abc123
letmein
monkey
myspace1
password1
blink182
(your first name)

Woman Finds Facebook Photos on Porn Site: How to Keep Your Pics Private

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:32:39 PDT

Talk about a nightmare! A 20-year-old Minnesota woman found her Facebook account had been hacked. Not only was she denied access, but also she found her Facebook photos had been stolen and posted to a porn site. Getting hacked is just like being robbed - you feel totally violated - but she wasn't the only one being taken advantage of online. Turns out, the same hacker had gained access to at least 100 other Facebook accounts, posting names and places of residence alongside photos on sexually explicit sites.

Not only is this kind of incident bad for your online reputation, but for your reputation as a whole. Imagine if a potential employer decided to Google your name, only to find photos of you on a not-so-savory website promoting pornography! The good news is there are steps you can take to lower your risk of being hacked on Facebook, Twitter, and other online destinations. Get the tips when you read more.

How to Create a Hacker-Proof Password in 5 Easy Steps

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:51:22 PDT

You've heard it a hundred times before: you need to create a hacker-proof password to keep from falling victim to cybercrime. But not only are you supposed to choose a hard-to-guess password, it's best to have a different one for each website you've registered with. This fact was reinforced after the recent hacking of Gawker, which allowed hackers to gain access to Gawker user accounts, as well as any other online account that used the same password. Even more worrysome: this weekends massive email data breach.

Talk about confusing! So how do you go about creating a hacker-proof password that's easy to remember? Find out after the break.

31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Change Your Passwords

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:23:01 PST

These days, you live your life online. With digital profiles ranging from banking to social networking, keeping your accounts safe should be of the utmost importance. So why are you still using a lame password that any hacker (or creative thinker) could compromise? Changing your passwords on a regular basis and using unique phrases with a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols for every website is ideal. I know you're thinking that you'll never remember all those different passwords, but creating hacker-proof passwords is easier than you think. Check out the quick tutorial below and set a reminder to change your passwords again in three months!

Choose a phrase - This one time at band camp
Change words to numbers - This 1 time at band camp
Pick first letter of each word or number - T1TABC
Add special characters - T1T@BC
Customize by adding a suffix for each site you register with - (example: for Amazon) T1T@BCAMA

Savvy Links: Beautiful People Earn $230,000 More Than the Rest of Us

Emily Co — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:33:51 PDT

Beautiful people earn $230,000 more than the rest of us - The Jane Dough
25 things to never pay full price for - Wise Bread
Your male co-worker is scared of you - LearnVest
Why she ditched beauty pageants for the army - HuffPost Women
4 behaviors you don’t have to put up with from a work friend - The Daily Muse
Senate explores legality of employers demanding Facebook passwords - Tecca
What’s the best day to email? - Corporette
Money missteps that matter - Real Simple
Save more on online shopping - AllYou

31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Back Up Your Facebook Data

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:21:51 PDT

Aah, Facebook. The place where all of our photos, comments, monumental moments, and information are shared online. Ever stop to think about what would happen if Facebook went down - or worse, got hacked? Your Facebook profile most likely holds tons of your most precious photos and videos, and like your computer, you should back up all of that data just in case. Here, I'll tell you how to download all of your Facebook content, from wall posts to photo galleries.

You can download a copy of all of your Facebook data right on the social network. Just head to Account > Account Settings > Download a Copy of Your Facebook Data (this link will be in the bottom left-hand corner of the Account Settings window). Included in the download is your contact info, photos, videos, notes, and wall posts as well as chat conversations, friend lists, events, and comments made on your wall posts. If you do choose to back up your Facebook data (it's recommended!), then be sure to keep it in a safe place, like a password-protected file on an external hard drive.

7 Ways You Can Avoid Internet Fraud and Phishing Scams

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:53:32 PST

The holiday season is here and millions of Americans are heading out to tackle their last-minute shopping lists. Though doing the lions share of your shopping online can save you time, there are many dangers lurking out there on the Internet, especially where there are credit cards involved.

One recent Internet phishing scam involves Apple fans, and a so-called "Christmas Awards" program. This email-based scam sends you a message from a non-Apple email address (like rediffmail.com) asking you to download an attachment to learn more about the awards program. The attachment is a Word document, which is a red flag for downloading viruses and malware. While the download doesn't appear to host any viruses, it does say that you've won $250 million dollars and a commemorative iPhone 4S. All you need to do to claim the "prize" is hand over all of your personal and sensitive information. Don't! If you get this email, don't open it and be sure to report it to the FTC.

Stay safe while shopping this holiday - and beyond - by following these tips that will keep your personal info out of the hands of hackers.

Don't be fooled by fake log-in screens: If you're already signed into Twitter, Facebook, or your email, you won't be asked to sign in again unless you've logged out. Even if the screen looks like the normal log-in, it probably isn't.
Don't be fooled by emails: I've been asked to reply to my "banking institution" with my account log-in information before. The email is formatted to look legit, but if you check the sender's address, most likely it's from a third-party account like Gmail, Yahoo, or MSN. Be diligent and never reply to emails with your bank log-ins or passwords and always check where they are coming from first! When in doubt, call instead.
Reset your passwords often: Too often, people have some pretty lame passwords, which allow their accounts to get hacked even without a phishing scam. Make sure your passwords are tough to guess, and try to change them every few months.

See the rest of the tips after the break.