SMUG: Password Security Follow-up
Paul Richards
Although your own computer at home or at work may not be subjected to the bombardment of hacker attacks that we hear about in the news, you probably use a service that is: your bank or eBay or FaceBook or any other service that you use could get hacked and put your user name and password at risk. When these hacked lists have been analyzed by security experts later, they have found that a huge number of people use passwords which are easy to guess. Many people also use the same few passwords for more than one service!
Don't make life easy for the bad guys in the world. It is important to use passwords that are hard to guess, use different passwords for every site you need them for, and change them often to minimize your risk. If they are more than you can memorize, as they often are and should be, store them in a way that is safe from "social engineering" and theft. No sticky notes on the computer monitor or in the desk drawer!!! We looked at three of the many pieces of software that can help you create secure passwords and manage them safely, so that you only have to remember one or two instead of a whole bunch. But, remember, you should also be sure that someone you trust who may need to get this information if you are incapacitated can do so. One possible way is a plain-text printout stored in a safe or bank deposit box.
Here are the three software products that Greg Maxwell and I demonstrated last night:
Keychain Access:
One of the Apple utilities included free as part of OS X and located at
Applications>>Utilities>>Keychain Access
PasswordWallet:
A 3rd party shareware product available from Selznick Scientific Software for $20. I have used this product quite happily for over 5 years. Unrestricted trial period, but PLEASE support shareware authors and buy it if you find it useful.
<http://www.selznick.com/products/passwordwallet>
1Password:
A 3rd party shareware product available from Agile Web Solutions for $39.95 (additional 25% discount for user group members - ask me for the coupon code if you're a SMUG member!) 30 day unrestricted trial period before you must buy. There is also an iPhone app version available from the App store!
<http://agile.ws/products/1Password>
Now, go change your un-secure passwords!
Paul Richards
Ambassador
Syracuse Macintosh Users Group
Syracuse, NY, USA
http://www.iSMUG.com
Paul Richards
On Jan 22, 7:50 am, Paul Richards <smugp...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I want to take a few lines to recap the January meeting presentation for those who may not have been able to come out and for those who may find the reminders useful.
I should have also pointed out the excellent e-book from our friends
at TidBITS Publishing, "Take Control of Passwords in Mac OS X," of
which our newsletter editor included mention in the January issue of
The AppleTree. This comprehensive $10 book is also available at a
discount to user group members!
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/passwords-macosx>
Greg Maxwell
Nice followup to last nights meeting.
Greg
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Judith McConnell
Also thanks to Paul and Greg on the great security presentation. I had
thought about suggesting that we change our agenda to read: Major Discussion
or Focus, but gentlemen you did give a very good "presentation", rather than
a discussion. Congratulations to you both.
Sue McC