Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

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.