Tag Archive for: Mistakes

9 Most Common Password Mistakes That Leave Your Accounts Vulnerable

/in


What was the inspiration for the last password you created for an online account?

It’s human nature to reflect fondly on memorable events, dates, people or pets when it comes time to “fill in the blank” on a new account password.

But it’s those personal details that can get us in trouble when nefarious characters try to steal our information online.

Internet security company ExpressVPN recently conducted a survey that revealed many of us are making poor cybersecurity decisions by including our personal details in passwords.

In this article, I’ll explore the most common password mistakes people are making, according to ExpressVPN’s findings, as well as some other tips provided by the firm’s cybersecurity experts.

9 Most Common Personal Details in Passwords According to the Survey

Including personal details isn’t the only mistake you can make with a password, but it definitely is a common one.

According to the survey, the most common personal detail included in a password is a date of birth. That’s followed closely by other easily identifiable things such as first and last names.

The trouble with this, of course, is that an identity thief can easily compile this type of information on you and put it to use as they attempt to crack the code on your passwords.

And while it may not be such a big deal if they get the password for your favorite online message board, it could be life-changing — in a bad way — if they’re able to figure out a password to your banking, investing, Social Security or other pertinent personal financial accounts.

Here’s a look at the top nine personal details survey takers were using in their passwords.

Ranking Personal Detail Passwords Containing These Details
1 Date of birth 43.9%
2 Pet’s name 43.8%
3 First name 42.3%
4 Last name 40%
5 Child’s name 37.5%
6 Phone number 32.2%
7 Middle name 31.6%
8 Social Security number 30.3%
9 Ex-partner’s name 26.1%
Survey statistics provided by ExpressVPN

That’s Not All! We’re Also Making These Password Mistakes

Remember when I said personal details aren’t the only problem? The survey unveiled some more common missteps that people make in efforts to secure their personal information.

ExpressVPN provided these…

Source…

5 biggest mistakes to avoid while buying a smartphone

/in


On a recent trip to a mall, I overheard someone saying, “I wish I had chosen a phone with a better selfie camera.” The geek in me wanted to have a quick chat with the person but I controlled my emotions and moved on. I keep hearing from my readers about the wrong choices they make when buying a phone. I always tell them smartphone buying can be a tiresome process for many. The whole process of narrowing down to the phone of your choice, hunting for deals, looking for cashbacks, calculating EMIs, etc can be a daunting task for some. However, if your priorities are set, the process will just go like a breeze. Here are the five mistakes to avoid while buying a smartphone.

Do not fall into the trap of the Android vs iPhone debate

This is a dilemma faced by many people as they get confused between an Android smartphone and an iPhone. Both are platforms with different foundations. The iPhone is all about simplicity and privacy, whereas the Android is about choice and control. A friend recently picked up a phone simply because of its 128GB storage and fast-charging charging support. Asked what made him choose a OnePlus phone, he said: “I didn’t want to live in Apple’s ecosystem, hence I went with OnePlus.” The point is the freedom to choose form factors, customisable options, and different price points is something you only get with Android.

Know your requirements

Before buying a smartphone, just think about your requirements. It’s an absolute must and shouldn’t be skipped. List down the features you want in a smartphone. I recently recommended the iPhone 13 Pro to someone who designs shoes and now wants to set up a YouTube channel. A high-quality camera is a prerequisite for photoshoots or live streaming. Always question yourself if the phone you end up buying adds any value to your work or life or is it just a piece to show off. Consumers often pick up the wrong phone, when their priorities are not clear. If I want to buy a phone for my father, I may consider a Redmi 9A over a phone with a 120Hz refresh rate screen or multiple cameras. The goal here is to get a phone that supports WhatsApp and has a screen large enough to watch YouTube. And for that, you can buy any…

Source…

3 security mistakes small businesses need to avoid

/in


The phrase any business owner most dreads hearing at the moment is probably “data breach.” A data breach means you failed to protect your customers’ information and that you’re about to lose the trust of your clientele.

It seems like every major company has had a data breach in the past year, but while a big company can survive the PR nightmare, a small business often can’t.

Even worse, if the big boys can’t keep hackers out of their systems, how can a smaller company that’s operating on a shoestring budget hope to stay safe? It seems almost impossible.

Fortunately, avoiding some basic mistakes that companies of any size can make will help minimize the risk. Taking care of these won’t make you 100% safe, but it should make a data thief’s job harder. So, let’s get started on protecting your business.

1. Trusting employees too soon

Most small businesses have records that could be extremely valuable to anyone willing to commit identity fraud. Criminals know this, and your customers’ personal information could be worth more than an employee’s yearly salary.

Just because you trust someone enough to hire them doesn’t mean that you should give them an all-access pass to your networks. Work with your tech team to set up layered access to your company’s records. People should only be able to see what they need to do their job.

Even something as simple as making your employees use Standard computer accounts keeps them from slipping data-stealing software onto your network or accidentally downloading it. Tap or click here to learn how to set up a standard account.

Similarly, if an employee’s job demands that they always have access to your customers’ sensitive information, then always do your due diligence. You can do a fair bit of digging into someone’s past yourself online. Tap or click here for the steps to take.

Your employees won’t be offended if you explain your reasoning for giving them limited access or requesting a background check before revealing customer information to them.

2. Using outdated systems

The single easiest way for a hacker to get into a system is to slip in through a hole in your security. The way holes get there is when you…

Source…