New Technology Reviews!.: Creating

Tips For Creating Strong and Secure Passwords

Computer hacking happens when hackers who know your password do not have to resort to technological exploits, instead they can log on and do anything that you can do on the computer or network. Keeping your password secret is one of the most important things you can do to in information security to protect your computer against security breaches. The first step in information security is creating strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed or deduced. Tips for creating strong passwords include the following: Do not use personal information for your password. Social security numbers, driver's license numbers, phone numbers, birth dates, spouse names, and pet names are all factual information that can be found out by others. Do not use words that are in the dictionary, including words in foreign languages. Dictionary attacks try these words and combinations of them. Do use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Do not substitute numbers for letters to make words (for example, s0ph1st1cated). Hackers are aware of this trick. Do not use sample passwords that you see in security articles or books, even if they are exceptionally complex. Generally, longer passwords are harder to crack because a brute force attack must try more combinations before finding a correct one. Windows XP allows up to 128 character passwords, although the welcome screen only displays 12 characters at the password prompt. You can switch to the classic logon screen, or just keep typing the characters after the password field appears to stop accepting them. Do use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that have meaning to you so you - but no one else - will be able to easily remember the password. For example, mfcrB&G might mean EURomy favorite colors are Blue and Green to you, but to anyone else while computer hacking it looks like a random combination of characters. Do select a password that you can type quickly, to minimize the chance of someone discovering it by watching over your shoulder when you type it. However, do not use common key sequences such as qwerty. After you create a strong password, you must keep it secure. Tips for keeping passwords secure in information security include the following: Never share your password with anyone else. Do not write your password down. This is the reason why you need to create a password that is easy for you to remember. If you disregard this advice and do write it down, keep the written copy in a locked off-site container. Do change your password on a regular basis, even if your network policies do not require you to do so. Always change your password if you suspect it might have been compromised (for example, if someone was standing over you when you typed it). Do not use the same password for multiple purposes. For example, some people might use the same number combination for their ATM PIN, network logon password, e-mail password, and for all protected Web sites. If this password is cracked in computer hacking, all of your accounts and activities will be compromised.

Tips For Creating Strong and Secure Passwords

Computer hacking happens when hackers who know your password do not have to resort to technological exploits, instead they can log on and do...

Are Antivirus Software Companies Responsible For Creating Computer Viruses?

Many people are under the illusion that software companies are in the business of creating viruses. The truth is that so many viruses are turned loose everyday and the battle to combat all this keeps major software companies busy. Companies like Microsoft, Norton, and McAffee are our major protectors against viruses created by those who would do harm to our PC and to our very being. These companies are not in the business to destroy what they have built. The truth is the anti-virus venders have quite enough work to do just keeping up with the new malware variants that the organized crime gangs release upon unsuspecting PC users. Yes, I did say "gangs" not random high school students who are just trying to pull pranks. The first virus was created by a student experimenting with the system. Now it has become a major crime committed by professional criminals. Today is a completely new world we are fighting against professional hackers. Ten years ago or so hackers were just a bunch of smart kids who hacked as a hobby.Today the word is that most Internet criminals are operating from Russia, China and Southern America. It is predicted by security specialists from the major anti-virus software companies that over the next five years there will be an increase in internet attacks from Central America, India, China and Africa. The other hot spot is in Brazil because they have many individuals with sophisticated computing skills but without the more lucrative job market to raise their standards of living. Malware creation hotspots growing in the former Soviet countries such as Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Lativia are the major areas of criminal activity. The online crime often presents a more lucrative path raising living standards for these people that is why it is hard to combat the problem.Major companies like Microsoft would like to introduce a major anti-virus program with their Windows but if they did the U.S. anti-trust commission would charge them with violations. Microsoft tried to introduce Internet Explorer with Windows years ago and got into serious trouble. There is probably no way that our major companies will ever be allowed to offer anti-virus programs that would be included with the PC systems. This is very unfortunate for the general PC users.The idea that these companies create viruses is just a myth. The major anti-virus companies are so busy creating software to combat the criminals we all have to face all around the world. The anti-virus companies do hire ex-hackers ostensibly for ethical hacking in order to check out the potential vulnerabilities of any system in advance. That is why the question about these companies creating viruses is highly controversial. When you see these ex-hackers, producing anti-virus packages that are fighting would be viruses. The fact is that even though these are the ones who help fight against a virus they are also the ones who create viruses. This does not mean that they turn the virus loose on unsuspecting internet users. In order to cure a virus you need to create a replica to experiment with to understand how the virus works. When the hackers know how a virus works then they are able to find a way to destroy, detect, or redirect the virus.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Frederick Musser is the owner of <a href="http://crspros.com/" target="_new">Computer Restoration Services</a>. Providing Expert Laptop Repair and Virus Removal To Kalamazoo Michigan & the Surrounding Area.For more FREE laptop repair tips and virus removal information please visit <a href="http://crspros.com/blog" target="_new">CRSPros.com of Kalamazoo Michigan</a>.Frederick Musser Holds several IT Certifications including Comptia, CIW, and ExpertRated

Are Antivirus Software Companies Responsible For Creating Computer Viruses?

Many people are under the illusion that software companies are in the business of creating viruses. The truth is that so many viruses are...