We are coming up on the holidays, and you are hearing a lot about people breaking into homes and cars for the holiday gifts the robbers know are inside. The local news no doubt has given you tips on how to stay safe.
I would like to take a moment and remind you that your online Security needs to be tight as well. Think about the passwords you use to secure some of your most important information.
Is your bank pin your birthday? or a birthday of someone in your family? Is your password that gets you into your online banking or even perhaps the back end admin section of your site "password", "edreamz" "your firstname" your last name" etc..., or some other easily guessable password. Do you only use one password to help you with remembering it.
If this does not sound like you. Happy Holidays!!!
If this sounds like you please continue to read!!!
If you are still reading you may want to take some time this holiday season, maybe half time of the games on thanksgiving day, or the time that you are using for a happy hour (but told your wife i have some last minute shopping to do!) to change your passwords. But please remember to change your passwords to a "strong" password. When you hear about strong passwords most think the following would qualify "pa55w0rd" in reality that's going to be the second or third thing that hackers try when trying to crack your password and get into your information. I know what your going to say because I have heard it before (come to think about it I've heard it from everyone that works with me). A password that long will be hard to remember. I have passwords that I use in my every day life that are randomly generated and over 10 characters long. I couldn't tell you the password if you asked me for it, but put a keyboard in front of me and I can type that password out and be into whatever I am logging into in seconds. Ask most of the E-dreamz team and they will tell you they didn't like their new passwords at first, but now most know their passwords by heart or if not they still have the password stored in a secure place to reference if needed. The following is an example of a password I would create for a user account "g*SJeID0f&" (now you see why the E-dreamz team loves me so much). The password as you can see is randomly generated. You can find sites via Google to help with making random passwords. You may even amaze yourself with your memory skills
Why did you install that alarm in your house and place those protected by "fill in the blank" stickers on your windows. Why do you have a car alarm that will sound if someone tries to break into it? Because like all security measures it's not a guarantee you won't get hit; the goal is to frustrate or detract the criminal so that he moves on to an easier target. I just wanted to remind everyone that we take great lengths to ensure the safety and security of our homes, cars, etc... shouldn't you do the same for your information.
P.S. Please don't use my example password as a password, you may not have been the only one to read this blog.
Happy Holidays,
Buzz
Nov 13, 2009 at 5:19 AM I often read your blog and always find it very interesting. Thought it was about time i let you know…Keep up the great work