xkcd: Password Strength
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Passwords made simple and secure
A great comic strip explaining how easy it is for you to get hacked and how to make a better password. Be sure to also activate the 2 step verification from my previous post.
xkcd: Password Strength
xkcd: Password Strength
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Your personal security online...
Everyone uses locks on their doors at home and some even have a security system to protect their personal belongings. Some get a car alarm and even one with a GPS to prevent your car from being stolen. A password on your phone, but what about your email? No one seems to secure email and it's the most important thing online now.
Why is email important? Think about it. Where are all your forgotten passwords resets sent? Especially for your banking and credit cards? Email. All I need to do is enter your password and is it even a secure one? Is it your kids name? Your wife's? Does it contain letters or numbers? Or even capital and lower case letters? Chances are it's a simple password. Is your password on this list?
25 most-used passwords revealed
Here are the steps to make it more secure and some recommendations:
1. Make a better password. Check this link out: http://xkcd.com/936/
2. Use Two-step verification. It's a second code that is sent to you or generated by an app, that needs to be entered. Think of it as your work VPN token. I have more information below.
Here are some links to popular email services with their "How-to". If you don't use any of these, I would seriously consider switching.
Hotmail or Oulook.com: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/two-step-verification-faq
Yahoo: http://help.yahoo.com/kb/index?page=content&y=PROD_ACCT&locale=en_US&id=SLN5013
Gmail: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/180744?hl=en
Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150172618258920
Enjoy your new piece of mind!
Why is email important? Think about it. Where are all your forgotten passwords resets sent? Especially for your banking and credit cards? Email. All I need to do is enter your password and is it even a secure one? Is it your kids name? Your wife's? Does it contain letters or numbers? Or even capital and lower case letters? Chances are it's a simple password. Is your password on this list?
25 most-used passwords revealed
Here are the steps to make it more secure and some recommendations:
1. Make a better password. Check this link out: http://xkcd.com/936/
2. Use Two-step verification. It's a second code that is sent to you or generated by an app, that needs to be entered. Think of it as your work VPN token. I have more information below.
Here are some links to popular email services with their "How-to". If you don't use any of these, I would seriously consider switching.
Hotmail or Oulook.com: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/two-step-verification-faq
Yahoo: http://help.yahoo.com/kb/index?page=content&y=PROD_ACCT&locale=en_US&id=SLN5013
Gmail: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/180744?hl=en
Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150172618258920
Enjoy your new piece of mind!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Way To Wealth By Benjamin Franklin (1757) Success Manual ...
Something recently discovered and a good read.
The Way To Wealth By Benjamin Franklin (1757) Success Manual ...
The Way To Wealth By Benjamin Franklin (1757) Success Manual ...
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Year end closeout...
So, another year has gone by... did you keep your New Years resolution? Mine was to post more. I came close. Missed a few since August due to work.
With the holiday's and New Year coming up. We all do things for other people, but forget to do the important things. Things that will benefit you and your future loved ones even more than the latest/hottest gift.
Here are a few things you've probably missed:
1. Examining your 401k - Is it giving you the best return, does it need to be reallocated? Are you getting at least 12%?? No? Time to take a look. While you're there, be sure to increase your contribution by 1%. You'll never miss it and you'll thank me later!
2. Your emergency fund - Is your money sitting in a checking account earning something for you? Most banks are paying 0.01 - 0.05% on your checking account vs a national money market account which is about 1%. Know what that means for every $1,000? $10 vs $0.10 in interest. What would you like to be earning?
3. Insurance - For everything. Are you covered? Life, Auto, Home, etc? Talk to an insurance agent or 2. You can save money and cover yourself. If hurricane Sandy taught us anything, is that anything can happen, make sure you're covered.
Life insurance can help your family through a rough time, especially if you had a new addition this year. Update your beneficiaries too!
Not to mention that you could also save a ton of money by getting additional insurance. I saved an additional $200 on car insurance for buying a $100 renters policy which covered me for property loss, even if something is stolen from my car.
4. Company benefits - This has multiple parts.
FSA/HSA/Dependent Care - ALL pre-tax benefits. Your child care, your glasses, dental work, doctors visits, etc. Plan ahead. You save 25% in taxes by just planning ahead. 25%!! Think about it. Could you use $250 for every $1,000 you spend. I sure could. (If you don't know what these are, I would find someone who does and ask. Talk to your tax adviser/accountant this coming April.)
Company Stock - Does your company offer it? My company offers a 15% discount on the purchase price at the end of every quarter. 15% You don't get a rate of return on your money that easy, ANYWHERE! Think about it, every $1,000 you earn $150 in 3 months. That's an extra $600 a year. Not to mention that some companies also pay dividends. Do you hear the dollar signs?
Pre-tax transit & Parking - Want to save 25% off your transit costs? It's easy! Take advantage of your pre-tax commuter benefit. Most companies offer this. On average, we spend about $1,000 a year on trains and buses. Park at a Park & Ride? You can put away for parking also. Add that $1,000 to it and you save $500 a year.
5. Your living will - Very important. If you don't have one. Get one. It's cheap and easy. It will save your family a ton of problems in case you ever pass away. No matter how old you are, you have assets and it can be passed on. Work has life insurance, your car, your retirement account. It will help in settling your affairs. Make a list and check it twice. You may have more than you know!
At this rate, I think I've saved and earned you at least $3,000+ a year.
And that's all I have for now! Happy Holiday's and Happy New Year!! See you in 2013!
With the holiday's and New Year coming up. We all do things for other people, but forget to do the important things. Things that will benefit you and your future loved ones even more than the latest/hottest gift.
Here are a few things you've probably missed:
1. Examining your 401k - Is it giving you the best return, does it need to be reallocated? Are you getting at least 12%?? No? Time to take a look. While you're there, be sure to increase your contribution by 1%. You'll never miss it and you'll thank me later!
2. Your emergency fund - Is your money sitting in a checking account earning something for you? Most banks are paying 0.01 - 0.05% on your checking account vs a national money market account which is about 1%. Know what that means for every $1,000? $10 vs $0.10 in interest. What would you like to be earning?
3. Insurance - For everything. Are you covered? Life, Auto, Home, etc? Talk to an insurance agent or 2. You can save money and cover yourself. If hurricane Sandy taught us anything, is that anything can happen, make sure you're covered.
Life insurance can help your family through a rough time, especially if you had a new addition this year. Update your beneficiaries too!
Not to mention that you could also save a ton of money by getting additional insurance. I saved an additional $200 on car insurance for buying a $100 renters policy which covered me for property loss, even if something is stolen from my car.
4. Company benefits - This has multiple parts.
FSA/HSA/Dependent Care - ALL pre-tax benefits. Your child care, your glasses, dental work, doctors visits, etc. Plan ahead. You save 25% in taxes by just planning ahead. 25%!! Think about it. Could you use $250 for every $1,000 you spend. I sure could. (If you don't know what these are, I would find someone who does and ask. Talk to your tax adviser/accountant this coming April.)
Company Stock - Does your company offer it? My company offers a 15% discount on the purchase price at the end of every quarter. 15% You don't get a rate of return on your money that easy, ANYWHERE! Think about it, every $1,000 you earn $150 in 3 months. That's an extra $600 a year. Not to mention that some companies also pay dividends. Do you hear the dollar signs?
Pre-tax transit & Parking - Want to save 25% off your transit costs? It's easy! Take advantage of your pre-tax commuter benefit. Most companies offer this. On average, we spend about $1,000 a year on trains and buses. Park at a Park & Ride? You can put away for parking also. Add that $1,000 to it and you save $500 a year.
5. Your living will - Very important. If you don't have one. Get one. It's cheap and easy. It will save your family a ton of problems in case you ever pass away. No matter how old you are, you have assets and it can be passed on. Work has life insurance, your car, your retirement account. It will help in settling your affairs. Make a list and check it twice. You may have more than you know!
At this rate, I think I've saved and earned you at least $3,000+ a year.
And that's all I have for now! Happy Holiday's and Happy New Year!! See you in 2013!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Free training online
With the internet, there is no excuse of "Your company not providing adequate training.". It is really up to you to make time. Ease up on Facebook, You Tube, TV or any other time consuming activity. There are sacrifices to anything you want to do.
This is also true of anything you see in a job search. Don't know how to do it? Do a Bing or Google search on any skill. Be honest and put it on your resume, you learned it but haven't had the opportunity to apply it, but you'll love the opportunity to apply it. The willingness to learn is critical in any job. Welcome to the new world. Anyone not willing to learn a new task is unemployable. McDonald's employees need to learn new things too. Think they knew how to make that smoothie before?
Here are some links to common training that everyone needs.
Office 2007, 2010, 2013
http://office.microsoft.com
Microsoft software
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/products.aspx
Find out how on a Mac
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/
If you Bing or Google search any topic, there's a ton of stuff out there for you to learn. ENJOY!
This is also true of anything you see in a job search. Don't know how to do it? Do a Bing or Google search on any skill. Be honest and put it on your resume, you learned it but haven't had the opportunity to apply it, but you'll love the opportunity to apply it. The willingness to learn is critical in any job. Welcome to the new world. Anyone not willing to learn a new task is unemployable. McDonald's employees need to learn new things too. Think they knew how to make that smoothie before?
Here are some links to common training that everyone needs.
Office 2007, 2010, 2013
http://office.microsoft.com
Microsoft software
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/products.aspx
Find out how on a Mac
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/
If you Bing or Google search any topic, there's a ton of stuff out there for you to learn. ENJOY!
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