Laptop/Desktop/Cell Phone Security

The cyber world is a pretty scary place at times. The reality is that in the USA we are considered a high value targets for various political and financial reasons. Bad guys and gals who write viruses, specifically design them to impact applications and hardware found by USA users. Let me explain some basic threats and how to minimize your risk WITHOUT having to stop using technology.

First – Passwords. If your password is so complicated you cannot remember it, you have to use the “forgot password” feature often, you are using the same password for multiple applications/websites, etc… then what you are doing is NOT working. Here are some basic best practices when making a password.

• Make it at least 8 characters long
• Do NOT start with a number or special character
• Have at least one capital letter and one lower case letter
• Include numbers and a special character (@, #, $, % ,&, !, ?, etc….)
• Do NOT reuse passwords on multiple websites/applications
• Do NOT make it so complicated you cannot remember it
• Do not have your computer/website “auto remember” your passwords UNLESS you only work in a secured environment (i.e. don’t use multiple computers, not connecting at places via public Wi-Fi like Starbucks or an airport, etc…..).
• Have someplace you write it done (assuming you are not working for a high-end security situation) that is NOT easily lost, is readily accessible when you are using your computer but not under your keyboard, and not in a file call “passwords” or “really important stuff”.

Ok now I know what you are thinking. That there is NO WAY to follow all those rules. That is not true. Give me a call and I promise you using my “password philosophy” concept I promise you can do all of those without hurting your brain. If you want to use a password manager, do not go cheap. There is NOTHING more frustrating than your manager getting hacked and now everything is compromised or if it is not user-friendly.

Firewalls/Antivirus. If you are running a small business or have financial information (i.e. login to your bank or credit card account), you need to have a firewall and antivirus application. Windows, Android, iPhones, and Macs all have some basic security, but you get what you pay for. The free stuff is not as good as even the very inexpensive major players like McAfee and Norton. You need it installed on all your devices, including your cell phone. Give me a call if you want some help figuring out the best solution that will not break the bank.

Backup. Data storage is cheap. If you do not work in an industry that has special security requirements (ex. HIPAA) you need to select a cloud storage option. Window, Apple, and Android all have various solutions that can run in the background and automatically back up your data. I HIGHLY recommend you check them once a month to make sure they are working. There are viruses and various other reasons that the backup stops working, and you don’t realize you have a problem until you require it (i.e., hard drive crash) and the backup has nothing from the last year. I recommend a reminder on the 1st of the month for checking your backup (1 cell phone and 1 or 2 computers can be done in about 5 minutes). Give me a call and I can get one setup and show you how to “check it”. If you need one with extra security requirements, I can help you find that solution too.

Data Best Practices. You need to store your data in a way that makes it easy to dump old stuff you don’t need once a year, find stuff you use daily quickly, and not be so complicated that someone cannot understand your filing system at a glance. Give me a call and I can help you set up your folders and file names in ways that will keep your head from hurting even when you have a lot of files.