Although Cookies can be very delicious, in the computer world, they leave traces behind for easier access for the end user. By referring to "easy," it can also be intercepted by a hacker with a third party program called a "keylogger". Not to scare you away, but when you go to a website and it asks you to save the password, your web browser is actually saving it in a password vault in the settings. It is very convenient for most people to store a saved password and to never have to type it in again, until it becomes a compromised issue. Storing it can mean, that anyone who has access to your computer can now login as you.
Here are BEST PRACTICES to take when it comes down passwords in general.
It is always recommended to change your password every 30-60 days and to include the following requirements:
- 6-10 characters
- 1 Uppercase Letter
- 1 Number
- 1 Special Symbol (i.e: !@#$%^&*)
It might be a challenge to remember the new password when you change it often however, by signing it at least once a day, you will have it memorized. It is never a good idea to keep passwords in written context such as post-its or emails. Your brain is the best place to keep that safe and handy because no one else will remember but you.
If you are feel that a website may look legitimate but something is off with it, there is a good chance it is a "phishing" site and I do not mean fishing on a boat! Keyloggers are used very often on these "phishing" sites, and I will cover that in next Tuesday's tip.