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As you are well aware there has been an active person or group of people trying to get our account information from us here on DA. What they want this for is hard to tell, but more than likely they are looking for credit card information or personal information that they can use to exploit our wonderful users here on DA.
So here are a couple of general habits you should get yourself to use on a regular basis to protect this and other accounts you may have.
#1: Change your password on a regular basis.
This is the most important thing you can do to protect your account. Get into the habit of changing your password on a regular basis. It is easy to do and it can save you a lot of heartache in the long run. I normally change my passwords every six months.
How to keep track of them can be a bit challenging but there are some low cost programs from trusted companies to help you track these that are secure.
Coffecup software's Lockbox is one that tracks your passwords and keeps them secure as well as generates them for you. www.coffeecup.com/lockbox/
Otherwise a keep them in a text file that you place into a secure file using some form of encryption like True crypt, which is a free encryption program that is very secure.
Never write them down on a note and leave it lying about the place. Also never share your password with anyone, ever. Many scams that are out there send you messages that look like they are from your friends requesting passwords or leading you to a false log in page. As you know by now never use these links. If you are in doubt log off the site and re log on yourself by going there from your own browser using the address you type in yourself. Remember site administrators never need to know your password for any reason (they can simply reset the password should they ever need to get into it. They won't without good reason though because they are much too busy running the site to personally monitor your pages).
I would also recommend not using the remember user name and password features that are are prevalent in most browser software.
When generating your new passwords never use things that are common knowledge about yourself. This means no birthdays, pets names, children's names, hometowns, school names, nicknames, etc. Most hackers out there are liars and thieves, but they are usually good at getting information on their victims.
#2: Money and sites
I never use a credit card on these web sites. Credit cards do offer protection against your number getting stolen but it can take you a while to prove to the credit card company that you are really a victim and meanwhile your card is going to be inactive.
I use a nice service like paypal as a gateway for payments. They are secure, and the transaction has to be initiated by you and approved by you logging on with your personal password (that you will be changing every six months or so). Also you can monitor the transactions that have been processed from a nice page that lists them so you can have any suspicious ones investigated. These services have powerful investigators and lawyers so you don't have to hire your own.
Is this fool proof, well nothing is really fool proof but if you apply the steps from item #1 to this you will be in much better shape that if you do not.
For maximum security you can stop going on the web and live in a cave on the side of a mountain, then no one could get your information. But no one wants to live like this, and no one would then want your information anyways.
Just remember to use good common sense and give no one your passwords, and you should be fine. Also keep abreast of security topics by looking at some technical journals online from various trusted computer magazines or companies. These journals can be a bit dry at times but they will let you know if there are any things to be wary of here in the wilds of the net. Cnet is good www.cnet.com , but there are many others as well. Have fun and stay safe here on DA.
So here are a couple of general habits you should get yourself to use on a regular basis to protect this and other accounts you may have.
#1: Change your password on a regular basis.
This is the most important thing you can do to protect your account. Get into the habit of changing your password on a regular basis. It is easy to do and it can save you a lot of heartache in the long run. I normally change my passwords every six months.
How to keep track of them can be a bit challenging but there are some low cost programs from trusted companies to help you track these that are secure.
Coffecup software's Lockbox is one that tracks your passwords and keeps them secure as well as generates them for you. www.coffeecup.com/lockbox/
Otherwise a keep them in a text file that you place into a secure file using some form of encryption like True crypt, which is a free encryption program that is very secure.
Never write them down on a note and leave it lying about the place. Also never share your password with anyone, ever. Many scams that are out there send you messages that look like they are from your friends requesting passwords or leading you to a false log in page. As you know by now never use these links. If you are in doubt log off the site and re log on yourself by going there from your own browser using the address you type in yourself. Remember site administrators never need to know your password for any reason (they can simply reset the password should they ever need to get into it. They won't without good reason though because they are much too busy running the site to personally monitor your pages).
I would also recommend not using the remember user name and password features that are are prevalent in most browser software.
When generating your new passwords never use things that are common knowledge about yourself. This means no birthdays, pets names, children's names, hometowns, school names, nicknames, etc. Most hackers out there are liars and thieves, but they are usually good at getting information on their victims.
#2: Money and sites
I never use a credit card on these web sites. Credit cards do offer protection against your number getting stolen but it can take you a while to prove to the credit card company that you are really a victim and meanwhile your card is going to be inactive.
I use a nice service like paypal as a gateway for payments. They are secure, and the transaction has to be initiated by you and approved by you logging on with your personal password (that you will be changing every six months or so). Also you can monitor the transactions that have been processed from a nice page that lists them so you can have any suspicious ones investigated. These services have powerful investigators and lawyers so you don't have to hire your own.
Is this fool proof, well nothing is really fool proof but if you apply the steps from item #1 to this you will be in much better shape that if you do not.
For maximum security you can stop going on the web and live in a cave on the side of a mountain, then no one could get your information. But no one wants to live like this, and no one would then want your information anyways.
Just remember to use good common sense and give no one your passwords, and you should be fine. Also keep abreast of security topics by looking at some technical journals online from various trusted computer magazines or companies. These journals can be a bit dry at times but they will let you know if there are any things to be wary of here in the wilds of the net. Cnet is good www.cnet.com , but there are many others as well. Have fun and stay safe here on DA.
Hope you are well
This week has been trying here in Iowa. We have had more snow than we have had in quite a while all in one week. With temperatures dipping to -19F things have been challenging to say the least. I know that a large portion of the US is going through this as well. So I am just sending this out wishing that you are well.
Journeys
Life is a journey. Not all journeys are fun and exciting. However, in every journey there are times that stand out and make the overall adventure exciting and special. It is enough to realize that someone loved someone else enough to start us on this journey. We are all special in our own way and that is the important thing to remember. As I continue on in this journey, I am grateful for the others that I have come to know. It is this interaction with friends and family that matter the most in life. Even brief interactions with people we do not know are special in their own way. As you continue on in your journey, hold on to the people you know and the ones that you will meet as they are the key to happiness in the end. Do not be afraid to admit your weaknesses to others as they can help bolster you in your times of need. Stand fast and be proud of what you are and what you will become. These are the the things that make you special to others. Stand up for yourself and what you
Fall is my favorite time!
Fall is here and the weather is cooling off. The smell of leaves fills the air and the trees are wonderful to look at with their varying colors. This is my favorite time of the year. I used so like Spring more but as I grow older I relate more with the fall weather. I hope everyone is well, I have been fine and have been working on Jwildfire for relaxation. I find the details I am able to get out of Jwildfire make it a really fun way to spend some of my extra time. Thanks to everyone who has been faving my works I appreciate them all. I wish I could spend the time to thank everyone individually but it would take most of my time to do so. Trust me when I say that you have my deepest thanks and appreciation! If you like, leave me a comment below with your favorite season of the year! Have fun everyone and stay safe! Allan
Thanks Everyone!
A warm thanks to everyone who is following me here on DA. I appreciate all the faves that I receive and just want everyone to know that I love looking at the works that you are creating on this site. I gather great inspiration from the works found here on DA. So, thank you again and keep up the great work!
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Thanx for taking your time to dissiminate this important info my friend.. I have learned much.
Cheers !
Cheers !