This week while watching the news I saw that there has been a giant data leak from big companies like Facebook, Google, Apple, and others. Over 16 billion passwords were exposed. So if you've been putting off changing that one password you use, maybe change it now. I know it's hard to do what everyone says when it comes to password security. Especially since every little thing has a website with a log in now. I'd like to share my accumulated knowledge about how to survive in today's Internet world. This is not an end all, be all. Some systems work better for different people. Everyone's information can be breached, but we don't want to make it easy for them!
Password Managers
If you can, there are password managers you can use to store your password information. This can aid in the attempt to have a different password for each site. Even if you use Google Password Manager, it's better than nothing. These managers encrypt your password, store it, and decrypt it. So it's not just lying out there for everyone to see. And you don't have to manually remember! Other password managers are Bitwarden, Keeper, and Proton Pass. These usually have free and paid options.
My mom keeps a little notebook with all her passwords in it, and while many professionals recommend against it, I think it's still better than nothing if you're just a layman in security. If you do that, please do not keep it anywhere near your computer. Maybe in a safe or hidden away. Please whatever you do, do not keep your laptop password taped to the bottom of the laptop! So many people do this, if you worry you'll forget, set up an easy code or biometric entrance instead. I understand it's usually for older folk, but their data deserves to be private too!
Have I Been Pwned? Website
Back when I was studying at MCTC and participating in the CCDC, the Cybersecurity Club had a meeting about password security and mentioned this website. It is by far one of my favorite, easy recommendations to monitor your personal data for these breaches. You can visit the website below. It works by taking in your email and then it notifies you when that email is involved in a breach. It also informs you of which information has been breached such as credit card information, address, passwords, etc. It is the best offense when your data has been leaked. Once you get that email, you go to that account and change the password. It also helps you be more aware of your credit card charges and such to detect sooner when the data has been officially sold to someone to be used. Usually the way breaches work is that the data is stolen and put on the dark web where it can be sold to anyone that will pay. So even if nothing happens right away, it could still happen later! I'd recommend everyone to go there and sign up quick for notifications. It's free!
Conclusion
There are millions of ways to protect yourself from data breaches and living in this digital world. Things most people have heard a million times, I'm not going to repeat those. I think the systems I discussed are well worthwhile for anyone works, plays, and exists on the Internet. Please try them out.
Related Articles & Websites:
- 16 billion passwords exposed in record-breaking data breach, opening access to Facebook, Google, Apple, and any other service imaginable
- Have I Been Pwned?