Using a strong password when interacting with the numerous sites online is not an option but a requirement. As technology is continuously moving towards the use of the Internet for many of our transactions, processes and interactions, we have to take the necessary steps to be sure that we keep our online information secure. With this in mind, here are a few tips that can help with creating a strong, secure password.

• No Passwords Based on Personal Information
  It is strongly not recommended to have a password with any personal information associated. This would include information such as one’s name, address, birthday, age, social security number or telephone number.
• No Dictionary Words
  Although using words found in the dictionary are easy to remember when selecting a password, it is much easier to crack by a hacker. If regular words are unavoidable, try instead to use syllables from regular words. Also, syllables from multiple words can be combined as well.
• The Longer the Better
  A one character long password generates 26 possible passwords. Therefore having more characters in a password makes it more difficult to crack. With this in mind, it is recommended that a password be at least 6-8 characters. However, a password with 12 or 16 characters are the best.
• Special Characters are Welcome
  The use of special characters such as @, #, ^, & or ! help for the creation of a complex password.
• Use Letter/Number Substitutions
  Another option is to substitute a letter in a word being used for a password with a number. For example, the word “vacation” can be changed to “v4c4t10n”.
• Change your Password Regularly
  Regular password changes are recommended every ninety (90) days especially based on the way hacking attempts are evolving. Changing a password every thirty (30) days or less may prove to be inefficient and lead to forgetting passwords and creating insecure passwords.
• Keep your Password Secure
  It is best not to write down passwords or keep them close to your computer. Hence, selecting a password based on a pattern that is easy to remember is recommended.

Examples of Strong Passwords

• H@rd2Cr@k!: Password is more than 8 characters, uses letter/character substitution, special characters and still is easy to remember by combining regular words
• (L4cp4B?): Password is more than 8 characters, uses letter/number substitution, special characters and is based on using the first letters of the words in the sentence “Long And Complex Passwords Are Best”

Pharming is a hacker’s attack aiming to redirect a website’s traffic to another, bogus website without the web site user’s knowledge or consent. Most times this is possible by exploiting a weakness in a web site’s domain name system. The aim of pharming is primarily to attempt to obtain a user’s personal information. Therefore it is not uncommon for users who reach these bogus websites to be presented with pages that ask for their credit card or bank account information.

Pharming is almost closely associated with another term, phishing, which involves the receipt of an e-mail message that appears to come from a legitimate source but attempts to also obtain personal information.

Pharming is explained in more detail in the video below:

Any Examples of Past Pharming Attempts?

In the past there have been many pharming attempts:

• In January 2005, the Domain Name for a large New York ISP, Panix, was hijacked to point users to a site in Australia.
• In 2004 a German teenager hijacked the eBay.de Domain Name.
• Hushmail, a provider of secure email services, was also attacked with pharming in April 2005 when it compromised to redirect users to a defaced webpage.

Any Interesting Facts?

• Drive-by pharming is another term derived from pharming where a hacker can drive hijack an unsecure home wireless router and change its default DNS settings to point to a rogue website.

Below is a video that explains Google TV further:

Over the past few days I’ve stumbled on some interesting articles and stories online that I want to share for your reading the viewing pleasure:

Some of the Best Iceland Photos Online

I don’t think I’ve seen anything like these photos of the recent Iceland volcanic activity. These were taken by a native Icelander whose intentions were to show the world that although the volcano caused disruption and many other problems it was first and foremost a sight of beauty. The detail of the photos are just superb.

Facebook Privacy Concerns

Yes Facebook has been under some fire this past week regarding their privacy policy. According to numerous reports, they are selling user’s data to advertisers and openly have been quoted to condone this activity. The reactions of Facebook users have been widespread prompting many to protest, seek ways to make their profiles more private and also to leave Facebook. Here are a few resources regarding these reactions:

• How to Quit Facebook Without Actually Quitting Facebook
• Facebook’s ‘outrageous’ privacy policy: By the numbers
• Quit Facebook Day – May 31st

Space shuttle Atlantis final voyage

This past Friday the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted-off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on its final mission. Some great photographs of this launch can be seen at The Big Picture.

We all know that exercise is very important to maintain health. However, it can be difficult to make time for exercise especially with the nature of our daily lifestyles. Office workers for example can sometimes spend hours at a desk sometimes in one position.

Below are a few resources that can assist with finding time for some form of exercise especially if your daily work prevents it:

• The business traveler: Working out on the Road
• Five ways to stay fit on business trips
• How to Find time to exercise at work
• 50 Easy Ways to Lose Weight While You’re at Work

What is an Avatar?

The term Avatar, when used in computing, is a representation of one’s self on the Internet or on a computer. An avatar can be either a three-dimensional model which is used in online gaming or two-dimensional icons used on chat forums and newsgroups.

Any Examples of Avatar use?

• Popular gaming system, Xbox 360, allows its users of the Xbox Live service to create a digital avatar representation of his or herself which is fully customizable. Users can change hairstyles, clothes, accessories, backgrounds and even create their own unique persona.
• Digg, a well-known news and content sharing website, provides avatar use through icon representation. Users can upload a photo or icon to represent themselves and when comments are made on submitted content that person’s avatar is displayed.

Any Interesting Facts?

• The term avatar has multiple meanings especially in film, television, gaming and even music.

It is truly amazing how much progress was occurred since the inception of Earth Day awareness. One particular initiative, green computing, helps to provide an awareness that we need to be environmentally responsible regarding our usage of computers and related resources. So how do we practice green computing?

Turn off the computer

Do you let your computer go idle or leave it on when you sleep? Turn it off and unplug it. Your computer will consume less power and generate less heat this way.

Use a laptop

If you have a laptop, make it a point to use it more often than your desktop. On the average, desktop computers use about 150 watts of power every time they are used. Compare that to the mere 25 watts that laptops consume.

Go paperless

Many times we print material that is not really needed. Do you really, really need to get that document printed? If it is not necessary for you to make printouts of that document, then do not do it.

Recycle your paper

Are you in the habit of throwing away sheets of paper that you have already used? If the other side is still blank, you can still reuse it as scratch paper. You can also let your paper pile up and then take it to your local recycling center.

Dispose of items the right way

Various items such as old CRT monitors, empty toner cartridges and even computer parts if not disposed of correctly can damage the environment. Most major cities have recycling centers that can handle proper disposal of these items and in some cases offer pickup services.