Ellen PhillipsQ: You wrote a column about safe passwords. Do you have any updates (or easier ways to remember them)? - Ben Bewildered
Dear Mr. Bewildered: Funny you should ask. Just last week I changed my passwords after reading about how to make my memory last longer. Wombat Security Technology (wombatsecurity.com), offers these methods to stymie hackers.
An easy-to-remember password is not necessarily safe. Avoid common words and numbers. Think of a word such as "apple." Spell it in upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols - @pp1E - then attach a significant year to the end. I might put 1965, my high school graduation; thus, the password becomes @pp1E1965. Each year thereafter, I just up the year itself and leave the other section alone. Because this new password is now safe enough to become the same one for all accounts (with a little editing), you should be able to think of it with little probproblem without writing it down for nosey eyes. Each online account - whether it's Facebook or Belk - becomes a code you tack on to the end. For Facebook, the password evolves into @pp1E1965fb. Simple!
Once we establish a password, we need the help of a password-manager program to keep us at the top of the protection list. I'm not going to even mention a paper trail because of its risk; on the other hand, the cloud and your hard drive will do the trick.
The cloud allows the user to not only store passwords, but also to then sync the info across different devices. Wombat Security recommends both LastPass ($12 yearly for a premium subscription) and McAfee LiveSafe ($90 per year). LastPass gives you access on your computer and mobile devices, imports passwords and deletes them from the browser, and then turns off the browser's password management. McAfee does all of the same but, additionally, includes antivirus software and, if you misplace your phone or tablet, the manager helps to find it.
Online safety also includes hard drive protection. Store your data using secure software, such as Dashlane (dashlane.com). It's available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows. If used on one device only, it is free.
What about when surfing the web? Be very careful when using public free Wi-Fi. We're most vulnerable logging on in places, such as the airport or a café since hackers love to spy on users. Never bank or shop in these public forums; if you must do so, then use virtual private network (VPN) software that safely encrypts info. Android, iOS, Mac and Windows may securely use the free Hotspot Shield VPN.
Set your Web browsers to clear cookies and passwords when you exit a site; also, shut down the browser at least once daily. Finally, never, never click Remember My Password. By following the steps outlined here, courtesy of Wombat Security, we'll have no problem remembering passwords ourselves.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfree press.com.