Security Counts: Keep Security In Mind When Making A Web Presence

With the recent hacking of Trend Micro’s (and others) websites, it should put the forefront in folks minds fact that security is extremely important.

In an ongoing security series, we’ll be sharing (and soliciting) tips for making sure your web presence stays secure from the simple to the complex.  There should be something for everyone in this; but not every post will be for everyone… but I hope useful, nevertheless, to keep in mind.

The thing to remember is that no matter what some eager salesperson will tell you, your presence or site is never 100% hack-proof; but the key is to engage in habits that keep things locked down.  It’s sort of like using “The Club” on your car; the club doesn’t prevent your car from getting stolen, it makes it harder so that the crooks move on to easier targets.  Your behavior is the number one way for people to get your site or identity.

So here’s tip #1: Use Non-Dictionary Passwords

Common names and dictionary words are very easily guessed by hackers; why?  Because they just take a program that applies a dictionary listing to it and keep trying until they get in.

It’s wise to keep your passwords long and difficult; however, it can be very difficult to remember them.  However, over time, if you keep using it, your brain will eventually “burn” it in to your head.  Maybe have a formula, such as the reverse of a dogs name, a couple gibberish symbols, and then the reverse numbers of your home address.  If you want to be really random, here’s a link to crazily secure passwords.  What I do is keep them on secure media, and copy them when I need them for mission-critical stuff.

Although not perfectly secure if someone gets my device, the hacker a thousand miles away does not have access to it.