Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

In my last post I suggested a useful method of enhancing (not  guaranteeing) your computer and identity security.  Today I want to suggest ways of making your passwords stronger.

First, some links where you can get more information:

http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/06/the-ultimate-guide-for-creating-strong-passwords/

Note the 8 4 Rule.  It's OK, but an editor of "Wired" magazine recently was hacked and his password was nineteen (19) characters long and a hacker figured it out.  So, there are no guarantees, but generally longer is better.

Password Generators exist:

http://www.random.org/passwords/
  Random.org has one

Perfect Passwords (https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm) is another.

Or, you can purchase a password storage program like RoboForm.  Links to such programs can be found here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381432,00.asp

For the Mac (OS/X) there is 1Password.   https://agilebits.com/onepassword  It is very strong, and quite useful. 

You have to remember the strong password you have for this program, but beyond that it lets you store and manage your passwords for handy retrieval.  Most also have a password generator to help you devise strong passwords. 

Remember to have regular backups going, maybe one to the "cloud" but certainly one to your external hard drive or to a DVD you burn every so often. 

Is this a pain?  Yes, and so are locks on the doors of your house or apartment, locks on your car dorrs and for the trunk of your car.  So is being very alert when you go for a run or walk, being aware of your surroundings at all times.  That's the kind of world we live in.

In my home state of Colorado they talk about reintroducing wolves and grizzly bears and other predators.  In the home state of computing, predators are already here, and hard at work.

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

According to various watchdog groups, including most anti-virus software producers, there are massive new threats to our computers and to our electronic transactions "in the wild" right now.  The watchdog group that blacklists spammers was just hit with massive spam flooding.  Some of the new malware is nearly impossible to detect until is has infected a computer or stolen your contact list, or made off with your passwords.

Most of my clients use their computers from home.  Here is a tip:

Create separate, tough, hard to imagine passwords for each account you have -- email, bank, credit union, insurance company, each site you purchase things from.  Both Windows and Mac computers let you have more than one program open at a time.  So. . .

 Open a word processor (like MS Word), a spreadsheet (like Numbers or Excel) or a text editor (like Notepad or TextEdit) when you start updating your passwords.  If you use something that lets you create a table, create one with these headings:
    Name of account      Username                       Password

You might have something like this in the boxes:
     Gmail                      myname@gmail.com      X13$fy*71

Every time you update your password or create a new account, put the information in this document.  If you con't know how to create "strong" passwords, check the next tip. 

If you can, encrypt this document and remember the password and write it down somewhere.  Print this document and store is near your computer in a safe place.

I don't recommend this for your work enviroment where coworkers or passers-by could find and filch your document,  But at home, especially if the kids are grown up and gone, this is pretty safe.  You could include it in a folder or three-ring binder with an innocuous label on it that only you understood (and your personal representative in the case of your death). 

While this is inconvenient, so is having your savings wiped out or applying for all new credit cards. 

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

My friend and client was having repeated troubles booting his computer.  Repair, Safe Mode, and finally an opportunity to log in.  Then, often, two rounds of Repair, Safe Mode, another Repair, another Safe Mode.  He asked me to fix it. 

Easier said than done.  The dreaded Blue Screen of Death began appearing.  Another friend had backed up his data.  I used a disk scrubbing program (Killdisk) to wipe the hard disk clean.  My friend did not have system disks, so purchased a new copy of Windows 7 (64 bit) Home Premium.  I did a clean install.  After restoring his data, doing a couple of reboots, I returned the computer.  Blue Screen of Death again.  Darn!

I did it all again, and this time went to the manufacturers site and download all the known drivers for the chipset.  I burned them to a CD, on my iMac while cleaning off the hard disk (again) and reinstalling Windows.  Then I booted and installed all the drivers (for the video, network, wireless, keyboard, trackpad, mouse, USB ports, etc.)  Then I installed MS Office, restored his data, and set up his Internet Explorer.  We had decided to "keep it clean" so I did not download Firefox or Chrome or any other utilities.  My friend says he will monitor his fingers and the mouse when he sees the word "Download" on the screen.

I forgot his printer and had to install that as well. 

So far it's working.  It took several hours, and he actually could have purchased a new computer for what I charged him.  Think about that when you are tempted to download something that will speed up your computer, or clean up your computer, or somehow magically make your life better.  Even recent Windows updates can be damaging. 

What do you think?  Have you had experiences like this?  Leave a comment and let me know. 

The Internet can bring a wealth of useful help to you.  If you have a PC problem, or a software problem, or don't know how to make something happen on your iMac, try a search on the internet to find answers.  Here are a few examples.

Your PC takes forever to boot.  Open your favorite browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.  Maybe Opera.  In the search window, type "PC boots slowly"  or "Fix slow booting on PC" or some such other phrase. 

Press Enter/Return. 

Then take the time to read some of the responses, or watch some of the videos.  You might be surprised as the possibilities.  (I hope one you find suggests that when you turn your computer on you start pressing the F8 key and then go into Safe Mode.) 

If you are on a Mac, and cannot get a program to stop running, you might type in a search phrase like, "How do I make a program stop running on my Mac?"

I think you are getting the idea. 

Oh -- do NOT get sucked in to downloading a PC Repair program, or other miracle program.  Those answers, those pop-up ads, those scams are probably part of what slowed your computer down in the first place. 

Ask.  Read and watch answers.  Keep your fingers and mouse pointers off the download button.

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know.