Selecting A Strong Password

Writen by Jake Feuerbacher

Maintaining a secure computer is a good defense against becoming a victim of Identity Theft. Use a secure password. By secure, I mean a password that is not easily guessable, such as a word you may find in the dictionary. These types of passwords can be found by someone using what is known as a "dictionary attack" This type of attack involves using the words that are found in the dictionary and comparing those to a hash that has been generated by the Operating System. If the attack matches the hashes, then the password has been compromised. Don't use birthdays or Social Security Numbers as well. It has been recommended that your password be at least 8 characters long, including small and capital letters, numbers, and special characters.

A password like "alphabet" can easily be compromised. If you were to change it up a little by making every other letter a capital, "AlPhAbEt", this will improve the security. You can then take it a step further and replace the "E" with the number "3", so then your password looks like "AlPhAb3t". Then take the "l" and change it to the number "1" or even the "!". So now the password looks like "A!PhAb3t". It will take a super computer an extremely long time to break this password.

At this point the attacker would have to use a method known as "brute force". That means the attacker is taking every possible combination of numbers and letters and special characters and creating a hash to try and match the hash stored by the computer.

To prevent yourself from being subjected to a "brute force" attack, you can set up a security policy that will disable the account after a certain number of unsuccessful attempts.

To further prevent yourself from being compromised since there are programs that can download the hashes stored in your computer, you may want to set some kind of time limit for your passwords. A good example would be that the password would have to be changed every 90 days, and the same password can't be used within a 180 period. This will help ensure that if someone did get the hash of your password, that by the time it is compromised, it would be an obsolete password.

Try to check your logs to see if there have been any attempts on the password. This will certainly let you know if someone is looking at your computer in order to compromise the data that is stored on it.

By maintaining a secure password, you are ensuring that your private information will remain private.

For further information and tips, visit our site at www.whoelseisme.com

Founder and Boss Hog of http://www.whoelseisme.com, I created the site in order to help people not only recover from Identity Theft, but to prevent Identity Theft from happening to them.

The Future Is Now

Writen by Mike Bryant

Remember that neat little wrist watch Dick Tracy used? You know, the one that had the phone, TV, etc all built in. And it told time, too. Way back when Dick Tracy first appeared, a watch like that was nothing more than a wistful look into the technology of the future. At the time, I'm sure that it was widely thought that technology would never get so advanced that a simple little wristwatch could actually provide all those functions.

Of course, that fanciful future is the here and now. Along with tremendous gains in the size, speed and power of computing devices, a strange and wonderful thing is happening… A sort of revolution is taking place, something called Technological Convergence. You see, a TV used to be just a TV, something that you watched television shows on. A telephone was something that, for a hefty monthly fee to Ma Bell, you could use to speak to friends and family all over the world. And a wristwatch, well, was something that told you the time.

Over the past few years, and seemingly growing momentum recently, these standalone devices that once served only a single, simple function are now beginning to be multi-purposed. TV sets can now be enabled to surf the net, phones can be used to get and send email, and watches can be used as Instant Messaging devices. The most obvious advancement in the technological merging arena is the cell phone. A simple cell phone, with the right services attached, can display movies, music, email, web, act as a personal calendar and much more. It is amazing to think that just a few years ago a cell phone was just a phone. Another example is the PlayStation 2 gaming console. It is a CD player, DVD player and an Internet device all in one.

If you are inclined to think that all this 'convergence' is some amazing stuff, I agree, but remember: this is just the beginning. I recently heard of a company making a refrigerator that knows when you are running low on milk. That would be great, except I think I'll wait for the model that lets the grocery store know I need milk and automatically places the order for me.

We are still a far cry from having wireless internet-accessible chips implanted in our brains. In terms of technology, that is, perhaps not in terms of time.

Mike Bryant has worked as a professional software developer for over ten years. A born entrepreneur, he currently owns Centrant, LLC, a software consulting firm specializing in custom software for small businesses. He currently resides in Jackson, Kentucky with his wife, two kids, and five computers. For more information, please visit www.MikeBryant.com

Mp3 Players Many Capable Underdogs Vs The 800lb Gorilla

Writen by Zed Hayden

Anyone lover of gadgets and portable electronics knows what an Ipod is – and in fact, many people who have no interest in personal electronics know exactly what they are. With over 21 million units shipped, and over 75 per cent of the personal Digital Audio Player (DAP) market worldwide, it's no surprise – Apple Computer Inc. has become the 800-lb. gorilla of portable music players.

What most people don't know is the variety of alternatives to the Ipod – devices which can play music, videos, and more, and which accept Secure Digital (SD) cards, Compact Flash, and Memory Sticks, and replaceable (or rechargeable) AAA batteries, often for a lower price than a comparable Ipod. The iRiver devices offered by South Korean manufacturer Reigncom range from small players intended to hang on a keychain or as wearable jewelry style devices to full-fledged hard-drive based units pointed squarely at the Ipod's market.

SanDisk (a maker of Secure Digital flash memory) offers the Sansa series of MP3 players, with the distinction of being able to accept the same SD cards as many digital cameras, offering additional storage options and the flexibility to swap music collections without long transfer times. Some of Samsung's YP series of MP3 players offer a miniscule size, picture viewer and LCD monitor, all at a lower price than many competing units.

Although there are a variety of choices, one major reason for the Ipod's dominance is the sheer irresistibility of its marketing. The unit is sleek and simple, stylized yet understated, much like the rest of Apple's product offerings. For many Ipod owners, the device is a fashion accessory as much as a technological device – when walking down the street, the trademark white earbuds are clearly visible even from some distance.

So visible in fact that they have become an easy target for some muggers – but many Ipod owners would sooner risk robbery than trade in their favorite fusion of fashion accessory and music player. Many people find that a particular device simply suits their tastes better than all the rest, but in many cases, one device isn't necessarily "better" than all of the others, only different and with more or fewer features. The selection of manufacturers and models presently available offers as wealth of choices for any portable audio lover, whether replacing an existing device or entering the world of digital audio for the first time.

Zed Hayden is utterly and completely addicted to consumer electronics, and a regular contributor to gizmocafe.com – an extremely biased guide to consumer electronics, with extensive information about Ringtones, Nintendo DS, portable audio players and more.

How To Open An Account For Online Banking

Writen by Stu Pearson

We live in an era where our lives move at a fast pace. Computers are everywhere, and many business transactions can be conducted via a few keystrokes. Many people have taken advantage of online banking, the most convenient, easiest way to pay the bills, shop online, and manage your finances. Have you not yet tapped into this technical goldmine? It's easy to open an account for online banking.

If you want to open an online bank account, here are some steps that you might find to be useful, either if you want to open an account online or in person. It will only take a few minutes to set up your account. First, you need to choose your bank. If you already have a physical bank account, you're one step ahead of the game and can bank online via your current account. If not, you have some choices to make. Decide if you want a checking, savings, or money market account. Decide if you'd like to bank with a particular bank or a credit union.

You must also find out which bank has the features that suit your needs. In case you have found one, open an online bank account with them. The second step is going to the bank personally or online. In opening an account online, search for the bank's website using your browser, the fastest way to locate your branch online. It's easiest to sign up online rather than in person, and the best news is that you can do this from the comforts of home, at a time that is convenient to you.

But if you would prefer to open a bank account personally, you might as well visit your chosen bank anytime during business hours. The next step is to choose the features that you want. Most banks have a variety of account types, services, and features that you can mix and match. These features may have fancy names that you should learn. Choose the bank that has the right mix of features that suits you.

On the bank's website, you have to pick from the features that are right for you; you might click on "Open Bank Account" then click on "Checking" and the "Free Checking". If you are opening an account in person, you can just have a chat with the bank personnel, they will help you in opening an account that is just right for you and meets your needs. Fourth step is giving your information. For you to be able to open an account, you have to provide the bank information regarding yourself, for these banks do not open an account without several details of the client. They are doing this in order to comply with certain regulations and to protect themselves against risks.

You have to give them some simple details about you like; name, birthday, and as well as your identification number like Social Security Number. You may also be required to provide a government ID like your driver's license number if you have one. If you are opening an account online, just fill up the required fields on the bank's website and if you are opening an account personally, just hand your IDs over to the bank attendant who will most likely make photocopies of them. The next step is agreeing to their terms, which means signing off on a sheet that you comply with certain rules and regulations. Whenever you open an account, you form a relationship between you and the bank based on a very keen subject which is your money. You have to be aware of what you are getting yourself into. In opening a bank account online, simply click on the "I Agree" or any similar button on the bank's website.

The sixth step applies only if you are opening an account online. You may have to print, sign and mail a document to your chosen bank before your account is opened. Several banks use an electronic disclosure and consent that legally binds you to them, but more of them are not opening bank accounts without completing this procedure. Until the time they receive the documents needed, your account remains unopened. Once you've completed this process, you are the proud owner of an online banking account!

Most banks require their customers to wait for a few weeks, because they have to process your paperwork, after that period they will mail you everything needed for your account like checkbooks, depending on the account that you applied for. It really is a fairly simple process to embrace a valuable means of technology.

Stu Pearson has an interest in Business and Finance related topics. To access more information on bank one online banking or on chase online banking, please click on the links.