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How to Keep Data Out of Hackers’ Hands - NY Times
By MOLLY WOOD UPDATED August 6, 2014
The numbers sound abstract: Hundreds of millions of email addresses and other types of
personal identification found in the hands of Russian hackers. For people worried that they
are caught in the mix, however, the discovery by Hold Security of a huge database of stolen
data is very personal. But personal doesn’t mean helpless. There are common sense steps
everyone can take to keep the impact of hackers to a minimum.
How do I know if my personal information was stolen?
Assume it is. The latest breach is huge, and similar attacks and smaller thefts are happening
all the time. At this point, it is wisest to improve your online security immediately.
Should I change my password?
The first step, as always, is to change passwords for sites that contain sensitive information like
financial, health or credit card data. Do not use the same password across multiple sites.
How do I create stronger passwords?
Try a password manager like LastPass or Password Safe, which was created by security expert
Bruce Schneier.
These sites create a unique password for each website you visit and store them in a database
protected by a master password that you create. That sounds dangerous, but password managers
reduce the risk of reused passwords or those that are easy to decode.
If you must create your own passwords, make sure they are not based on dictionary words. Even
a word obscured with symbols and numbers can be cracked relatively quickly. Mr. Schneier suggests
creating an anagram from a sentence, and using symbols and numbers to make it more complicated.
For example, the sentence One time in class I ate some glue could become 1TiC!AsG.
Create the strongest passwords for the sites that contain the most sensitive information and do not
reuse them anywhere.
Are passwords enough?
Passwords are not enough. If a site offers additional security features like secondary or two-factor
authentication, enable them. Then, when you enter your password, you’ll receive a message
(usually a text) with a one-time code that you must enter before you can log in.
Many bank sites and major sites like Google and Apple offer two-factor authentication. In some cases,
the second authentication is required only if you’re logging in from a new computer.
How can I stop my information from being stolen in the first place?
Increasingly, you cannot. Regularly monitoring your financial records can help minimize the damage
if someone gets your information. But only the companies storing your personal data are responsible
for securing it. Consumers can slow down hackers and identity thieves, but corporate computer security
and law enforcement are the biggest deterrents.
SEE ALSO :
Russian Hackers Amass Over a Billion Internet Passwords - NY Times
By MOLLY WOOD UPDATED August 6, 2014
The numbers sound abstract: Hundreds of millions of email addresses and other types of
personal identification found in the hands of Russian hackers. For people worried that they
are caught in the mix, however, the discovery by Hold Security of a huge database of stolen
data is very personal. But personal doesn’t mean helpless. There are common sense steps
everyone can take to keep the impact of hackers to a minimum.
How do I know if my personal information was stolen?
Assume it is. The latest breach is huge, and similar attacks and smaller thefts are happening
all the time. At this point, it is wisest to improve your online security immediately.
Should I change my password?
The first step, as always, is to change passwords for sites that contain sensitive information like
financial, health or credit card data. Do not use the same password across multiple sites.
How do I create stronger passwords?
Try a password manager like LastPass or Password Safe, which was created by security expert
Bruce Schneier.
These sites create a unique password for each website you visit and store them in a database
protected by a master password that you create. That sounds dangerous, but password managers
reduce the risk of reused passwords or those that are easy to decode.
If you must create your own passwords, make sure they are not based on dictionary words. Even
a word obscured with symbols and numbers can be cracked relatively quickly. Mr. Schneier suggests
creating an anagram from a sentence, and using symbols and numbers to make it more complicated.
For example, the sentence One time in class I ate some glue could become 1TiC!AsG.
Create the strongest passwords for the sites that contain the most sensitive information and do not
reuse them anywhere.
Are passwords enough?
Passwords are not enough. If a site offers additional security features like secondary or two-factor
authentication, enable them. Then, when you enter your password, you’ll receive a message
(usually a text) with a one-time code that you must enter before you can log in.
Many bank sites and major sites like Google and Apple offer two-factor authentication. In some cases,
the second authentication is required only if you’re logging in from a new computer.
How can I stop my information from being stolen in the first place?
Increasingly, you cannot. Regularly monitoring your financial records can help minimize the damage
if someone gets your information. But only the companies storing your personal data are responsible
for securing it. Consumers can slow down hackers and identity thieves, but corporate computer security
and law enforcement are the biggest deterrents.
SEE ALSO :
Russian Hackers Amass Over a Billion Internet Passwords - NY Times
