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Nowadays when one thinks of the kind of security breach that involves the pilfering of important information from a place of supposed safety by an uninvited entity, the most likely image to spring to mind is some type of cyber-attack.

For many, storing, transferring and securing important information has become an intangible practice. The majority of organisations and businesses chose to store their sensitive information such as customer data digitally. This requires saving sensitive information on databases within a computer network and protecting it against falling into the wrong hands with sophisticated information technologies such as firewall and anti-virus software.

However, it wasn’t too long ago that the passing and storing of information from one party to another was entirely physical, contained within a paper document and cast in ink. Here we look at the evolution of protecting ink and the secrets it could contain, whilst also considering whether some of the techniques still have a use in our digital age.

Invisible Ink

Invisible ink is one of the oldest methods used for protecting important information. It is a special type of ink that becomes invisible to the eye after application, but which can then be redeveloped by some means to be visible once more.

Throughout history there have been two different types of invisible ink.  The first is an ink that is made of organic materials such as milk and lemon juice and redeveloped with heat. The other type is made using a mixture of chemicals and is then redeveloped by the application of a reagent – a substance designed to encourage a chemical reaction that will render the ink visible once more.

Although the first known use of invisible ink dates back more than 2000 years, it wasn’t until much later that its use became more widespread. A major factor, like it has been for so many of mankind’s technological advances, was war. Reliable invisible ink that allowed for the passing of sensitive information, protected from the eyes of the enemy became an essential weapon in the field of combat.

War! What is it good for?

During the Revolutionary War of the late eighteenth century, the use of invisible ink by both sides was prolific. However, the methods and the formulas for reagents used to redevelop the invisible inks used were common to both sides. Therefore, the Americans, at the behest of George Washington, were the first to create an invisible ink that could only be redeveloped by the use of a specifically created reagent that only they knew the formula to. This ensured that documents captured by the British and which contained messages written with invisible ink were more secure.

World War I saw the introduction of industrial methods being introduced into warfare on a massive scale. As a result, both the Allies and the Germans invested heavily in producing a huge range of invisible inks with many different reagents needed to redevelop the ink. The Holy Grail, therefore, was a universal solution capable of redeveloping the ink, no matter the chemical composition. The British succeeded, and the Germans reacted by steaming the paper on which messages were written, altering the paper’s fibres so that the solution would fail to work.

World War II and the Cold War that followed bore witness to the golden age in the development of invisible ink technologies, as each side attempted to outdo each other and gain an upper hand in the world of espionage. The search focused on finding inks that were undetectable by iodine, ultraviolet or heat. At the height of the Cold War, The Stasi had 50 employees working in super labs and the CIA 36 working on secret writing at any one time, all with the remit of making invisible ink and the secrets it could contain more secure from the enemy.

The obsolescence of invisible ink..?

At the end of the Cold War there was less of a need for invisible ink and the resources being poured into their development were drastically curtailed. However, despite their practical use becoming dormant for a while, invisible ink technology is enjoying something of a renaissance.

Now they are used not to transfer and hide secret message, but as a security method designed to help combat fraud and help protect the authenticity of manufactured goods and materials. Labels created using UV fluorescent ink means that manufacturers of products, ranging from medicines to electrical goods, can stamp their products in a manner that is hard to replicate. The price of UV ink printers and the variables in ink production make such labels extremely difficult to counterfeit.

Using UV fluorescent inks has also become prevalent in the protecting money to ensure that notes are that much more difficult to counterfeit than before, with the new-style £50 Bank of England notes using UV fluorescent ink in a number of security based ways.

UV fluorescent inks that come in the form of marker pens are helping normal people make their household goods more secure. The types of marker pen described are from many retail sources, and can be used to mark valuable goods such as jewellery and antiques in a manner that won’t ruin them, but will make them easily recognisable should they be stolen and then recovered.

It’s amazing how something that was first thought of over 2000 years ago has developed using newer and ever evolving technologies, yet in a way, remains almost unchanged from its original concept and can still find a use in today’s modern society.  What are your thoughts on invisible ink, and do think they will continue to serve a security purpose in the future?

The Google Penguin 2.0 is an algorithm that has recently been updated. The Penguin 2.0 update redefines the way that sites are referenced in a web search. This 2.0 update is a successor to the previous Penguin 1.0 update, which provided the base changes for the Penguin 2.0 updates.

What is Penguin 2.0?
The way that the Penguin 2.0 update works is by aiming to remove search result pages that possess unnatural links, over optimization, over-use of keywords to achieve ranking, and also works to remove link-selling sites. The overall goal of this update is to help to provide a better searching experience for the user without numerous pages of the same content, or similar links. The Penguin 2.0 update works to present a variety of search results that pertain to the keyword from numerous web domains.

Before the Penguin 2.0 update, when people searched a term, they might get results that included the main domain for the site, as well as many sub-domains. i.e. www.example-link.com might be referenced for a search query that included the search terms “example link.” However, along with the main domain listing would also be sub-domains for the example link domain. For example www.example-link.com/services, www.example-link.com/products, and other similar links would appear.

While this might have helped SEO page results, the Penguin 1.0 algorithm tended to favor referencing frequently accessed sub-domains as part of a web search. Google has determined that users would benefit better from main web domain search results with relevant content, rather than a popular domain search, along with its corresponding sub-domains.

Protecting Your Website
The Penguin 2.0 update may seem like it’s working against those web developers and SEO businesses. But individuals can take steps to help make the Penguin 2.0 algorithm update work in their favor, instead of against them. One of the first things that a developer can do is to take the time to build a professional website with a simple user interface that allows people to use the site easily.

Besides designing a site that is easily navigable, there also needs to be relevant content on the web page that offers value to the people visiting the site. Link-building advertisements, and other affiliated links provide no real value to a visitor of the website.

Another factor that a website designer should keep in mind is to utilize usable information and link sharing methods that do not forward users to other sites.

A chief tactic that a web designer can use is to share web content; this is not only good for the web designer, but it also helps to generate back-links to lead visitors to more aspects of a web page. Besides sharing links, providing marketing and quality content on the site will raise the page rankings. As a result there will be more visitors to the site.

Hire a Professional
If you are limited or inexperienced in SEO techniques and you have already struggled with Google Penguin updates, consider hiring a professional service. The right experts in the industry will have the time, talent, and tools to properly repair your website and prevent it from getting hurt by the new updates. Compare costs of multiple vendors and their success rate before choosing one to work with.

This article was written by Sheldon Armstrong, a regular contributor here at The Tech Scoop. He writes this on behalf of Barefoot SEO, your number one choice when looking for SEO services in London. Check them out today and see how they can help you and your business!

According to the UK Card Association online credit card use, and other card-not-present purchases, account for the greatest amount of credit card fraud in the UK and these figures have been increasing in recent times. Why? With all these new safety procedures being rolled out, shouldn’t fraud be continuing to decrease? Technically, yes, but with online shopping becoming the norm across the country, shoppers may be starting to get a bit blasé about dishing out their personal details on the internet. It’s vital that online shoppers take precautions to protect themselves against risk and loss. Here’s how you can reduce the likelihood of falling victim to online fraud:

Check Website Security

Before you use any credit card processing service, you need to check that the website is secure. What this means is that there is a direct connection between you and the retailer, and that your credit card details are sent to them and them alone. When websites are not secure, there is a chance of there being a middle man; a hacking group or individual who intercepts the information that you send to the retailer. To check that the website is secure, look in the address bar of your browser. If the address begins with ‘http’, it’s not secure. What you’re looking for is an address that begins with ‘https’. This is the same standard HTTP communications system, but with the added security of SSL or TLS which encrypts your data during transit.

Utilise Credit Card Protection Systems

Most major online retailers will make use of 3D-Secure technology which has a twofold way of increasing web security. Once you’ve entered your personal details and credit card information into a website, you’ll be remotely connected to your bank who will ask for proof that the buyer is the owner of the credit card. This is usually done by entering a pre-arranged password, but it can also be a series of questions that only you will know the answer to. The retailer has no part in this, which limits the amount of information they hold about you. The most common card protection systems in the UK are Verified by Visa, Mastercard SecureCode, and American Express SafeKey.

Take Care Using Shared Computers

Buying online using a shared, public computer, in a library for example, is generally not recommended, but if it must be done, then take care. Many web browsers today save the information that you enter online to make it quicker and more convenient when you need to enter the information again. This is known as auto-fill. If a browser uses this, and the information is not cleared out, the next person to use the machine may be able to find important information such as your credit card number and security code. When you’ve finished using a shared computer, use your browser’s options to clear any saved passwords and forms, history, cookies, and cache to ensure there is no lingering trace of the information you’ve entered.

Keep Passwords Secure

Got a poor memory? Whatever you do, don’t write your passwords down on paper! Inadequate password security is a major cause of online fraud, and it can happen in a number of ways. Firstly, and most obviously, don’t give your password out to anyone, keep it personal. Secondly, as tempting as it may be, don’t use the same password for ‘popcorn’ websites like forums and entertainment sites as you do for online banking. Thirdly, be creative with your passwords, don’t make them easy to guess. It’s always best to use a long password with a combination of letters and numbers. And finally, don’t ever click a link in an email to a page that asks for your password. If you have received an email from a retailer or bank, enter the address yourself. In many cases, clicking a link will take you to a fraudulent website designed to look like that of a retailer.

Use Common Sense

The absolute best way to protect yourself against online fraud is simply to use your common sense. Unfortunately, fraud isn’t always a shoppers fault, and there have been many instances of UK retailers losing their customers’ personal details in recent years. But we need to take action and ensure that we do everything we can at our end. Fortunately, in most cases in the UK we are protected against fraud when we buy online, but if we’ve acted negligently, such as clicking an unsolicited link in an email or not having suitable anti-virus software, we are often liable for our losses. It’s not worth it. It takes no time at all to implement the above measures before making online purchases.

This article was written by David, an online financial blogger. 

Home security is probably on every homeowner’s mind. There are tons of home security systems available, but one of the most effective is a home security camera system.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that purchasing, installing, and monitoring a security camera is quite affordable and not difficult to set up. It not only helps to protect your home, family, and possessions, but it can give you a permanent presence and the evidence you need if a break-in ever happens.

Installing the right security cameras in your home might seem too challenging, but it can be done in just a few simple steps.

1. Find the best places to put them

Security cameras need to have a clear view of as much area as possible, and be able to see the places where a break-in is most likely to occur. They also need to be installed in locations that can be easily hooked up to the necessary cables.

2. Set everything up

The biggest problem people run into is installing the cables. Security cameras need both power and video cables. RG59 Siamese cables are the most common because they contain both.

They also need to be located in spots where they won’t be damaged by weather or animals. All the cables need to hook up to a single place in the house, and most people choose to run them into their attic area if they have one.

3. Give it life

Once the cameras are up and the cables are in, they just need to be hooked into your home’s power and fed into a video monitor. From there, the cameras are ready to go!

Installing a home security camera is one thing, but keeping track of it is an entirely different undertaking. Of course, home owners want to get the most out of their home security system, but at the same time, maintenance shouldn’t become more of a hassle than a support. Luckily there ways to make monitoring a security camera as easy as checking your iPhone.

One of the easiest of the many ways to monitor a home security camera is to keep track of it on an iPad. Having a live feed available at any time lets you monitor your security cameras from any place at any time.

Even if there is a break-in while you’re away, this system can put you right there so you can play a part in protecting your home. Not only does it give you peace of mind, but you can maintain an active role in your home security … even when you’re thousands of miles away.

As the iPhone market has grown, their reach has grown and it’s no longer aimed solely at tech savvy individuals. The apps are now being developed for all different age groups, from toddlers to high-schoolers. One of the largest growing target groups is children and there’s been an increase of apps that are being designed for kids. Four of the top 10 best-selling educational apps for the iPhone were designed for children under the age of five, according to a recent CNN report. Educational apps aren’t the only ones geared to children, there are many easy-to-play games with bright colors and fun noises. One of the best-selling examples is Angry Birds, which has spawned into several different versions that combined have sold millions of downloads through Apple’s app store.

The Draw to Kids
Kids like colorful things that are easy to use and iPhone apps are being catered directly to them. These apps can keep these children’s attention and entertain them as well as educate them. Children are more likely to stay focused on something that engages them and makes them think rather than them just sitting and watching a screen. The ability to control the phone with just a thumb or a couple fingers is very user-friendly, especially for a toddler who is developing fine-motor skills. By using their finger tip to work their way around, the kids are improving their eye-hand coordination. These children could be content for hours, solely sitting there and slingshotting birds at a stack of pigs. And if the app isn’t repetitious and keeps stimulating the child in different ways, the child will want to keep using it.

The Ease of Entertaining
Are you gearing up for a road trip and wondering how you were going to keep you kids entertained for that long? There’s no need to pack in toys and games when you can download apps for less money. Not only are a lot of games and programs fun and entertaining for children, but they can also be educational. You can keep your children entertained and engaged with just an iPhone while you are busy buying groceries, out to dinner, at the doctor’s office or just at home. One problem with handing off your iPhone to a toddler is the greater chance of you needing cell phone repair after they drop, toss or dunk your phone. Everyone makes mistakes, but children are more prone to being clumsy.

Engaging and Educational
There are apps designed to help teach kids at all levels and of all ages. A child can practice reading, counting, differentiating between colors or simply learning vocabulary with just a bit of navigating through an app store. Many of the apps are intriguing to children, keeping them engaged longer. Best of all, most of the educational apps only cost a couple dollars. As technology has increased, school programs have grown to follow with many implementing iPads and tablets as in-class learning devices. Exposure to technology at a younger age also prepares the children for the future and gives them a learning curve over classmates who haven’t had the experience.

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Anyone who has ever owned a computer is familiar with that sinking feeling of pressing the power button … and nothing happens. Whether it’s a new machine that still has that special smell, or something that should go in a museum, we all know the frustration and dread that comes from a computer that doesn’t respond to that simple command.

Various explanations could be at play. Here are six possible reasons your computer didn’t power up.

1. Bad electrical connection

A faulty electrical connection is more likely in older computers. They’ve been turned on and off so many times, accumulated dust, been exposed to divergent environmental conditions … and the weight of all those years of heavy use has worn them down. Anything from a loose cable to a memory module popping out of the motherboard will stop the computer from powering up.

2. Power supply

A malfunctioning power supply could be the reason. It could be as simple as the cable not working (or the cable being unwittingly disconnected by a child or pet). Or it could be more complicated, like the power supply box in the tower not being properly connected and attached to the internal components of the computer.

3. Video card failure

Whether your computer has a separate video card or an in-built one, your video card is likely to do a lot of work rendering graphics from games, moving images from streaming TV episodes and movies, and displaying high resolution pictures. If the demand has been such that your computer’s fan couldn’t keep it cool, the card might have gone down and taken your computer with it.

4. Motherboard failure

A computer’s motherboard is both the brain and heart of the machine. If there’s a problem with the motherboard, the rest of the computer is at risk.

For example, if your computer does not have adequate ventilation (blocked vents or a fan clogged with dust), the internal temperature of the computer may rise to the point where the motherboard overheats and becomes unable to continue its myriad functions.

5. Computer virus

Sometimes, the reason behind a computer’s failure to power up may not be tangible in nature; it could be software-related, even malicious. Certain computer viruses are designed not only to knock out your computer, but keep it down by telling the motherboard not to boot from the hard drive — which effectively prevents you computer from accessing the necessary data it needs to power up.

6. Hard drive failure

Your computer stored all your data on your hard drive — every document, every picture, every saved game file, etc. Also on your hard drive is the computer’s operating system, which it needs to run programs and let you do your thing.

If something is wrong with your hard drive — if it overheats due to excessive or long-term use, or is not properly connected to the motherboard and/or power source — your computer won’t be able to make the connection between the power button and the housing that stores the necessary startup information.

Solutions to save time

Computer problems don’t just cost money to fix, they cost time; time that could be spent working or generating results, but instead is wasted staring at a blank screen, waiting for the hardware to be replaced or the software to be fixed. Here are a few things you can try to save time lost to computer problems:

1) System diagnostic software: a lot of the issues in the above list stem from computer components that overheat and malfunction. A number of free, reliable programs available for download can monitor your system’s internal temperature and warn you when it reaches dangerous levels. The time spent catching these problems before they happen is time saved when something actually goes wrong.

2) Back everything up: if one computer refuses to turn on, you can rest easy knowing your data is still accessible via a flash drive, an external hard drive, or the cloud. No more will you have to sit idle while a technician tries to find your data for you.

3) Hire an IT firm: Sometimes it’s easiest to let the experts handle it. It’s a good feeling to know that even if you get hit by a virus and all your computers blow up, a team of professionals is standing by to swoop in and save the day, saving you hours of frustration and futility.

Related articles

• Does it still make sense to build your own computer?
• Replacing the Hard Disk Drive Like a Pro
• Learning Your Way Around: What Is A Motherboard?

In the world of mainstream games, sometimes people forget that there are actually quite a few good indie ones that are extremely enjoyable to play. These indie games are available to play online, many of which have surprisingly good graphics and offer excellent gameplay. Those who are interested in learning more about these games will definitely want to take the time to look into some of the different ones that are available.

Retro City Rampage

This game offers its players a nostalgic blast from the place, with references to everything from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Saved by the Bell. The main missions that you go through in this game are filled with all kinds of mock versions of things like the A Team as well as Ghostbusters. All of these pop culture references from the 1980s are a great way to go back in time and relive some of the old games and shows that used to be your all time favorites. Retro City Rampage is definitely one of the most under rated yet enjoyable indie games of all time.

Mark of the Ninja

When it comes to indie games, Mark of the Ninja has a lot to offer the average player. Those who play this game will find that there is a wide variety of modern technology in this game, from laser beam grids to automatic weapons. Despite the fact that this game has a lot of modern aspects and weapons, it still remains true to the historical spirit of the ninja. The lead designer of the game, Nels Anderson, was determined to make Mark of the Ninja as genuine and authentic as possible. With a very nicely integrated look and feel, this game is definitely considered by many to be one of the better indie games.

Natural Selection II

Natural Selection II is definitely one of the best indie games. Starting out as a sequel to the Half-Life MOD, this game uses a source engine called Spark for amazing graphics and excellent game play. The primary enemy in this game is intergalactic aliens which are battled by The Marines. With the Commander leading the battle against these aliens, players must face each of them down in order to ultimately save the world.

Part of what makes NS2 so unique is the diversity of each alien character. Although there have certainly been games that are similar to this one, so far none have managed to meet at on so many different levels. Those who are looking for a good indie game to play will definitely want to at least consider this one. Natural Selection II is definitely a primary example of a good indie game that does not disappoint. Although not everyone knows about these games, as most of them are not mainstream, a lot of them have quite a bit to offer. When it comes to indie game, these ones are definitely some of the very best you will find.

My name is Bill. I’m in my early 40′s and still remember the early Pong consoles.  Today I game on the XBox 360 and Wii for new titles, and just about every other platform for retro fun.

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At a time when finding a new job has become at best tricky, many sites that already have existing job search sections are giving them complete revamps in order to help businesses find the best new recruits. One site that is going all out to try and improve its job search mini-site as part of a wider overhaul is the recruitment networking site LinkedIn.

Already used by millions of people worldwide in order to try and network with people in their respective industries, attract recruiters and boost their online presence, LinkedIn is a valuable resource for those already in employment as well as jobseekers. Changes to LinkedIn Recruiter will see it become a fully-fledged job search site where vacancies are easier to find.

Get bookmarking
For anyone actively looking for a new job, no matter what their current position is, if the previews are anything to go by, LinkedIn Recruiter could be one of the first sites anyone heads to for a lengthy job search. In recent years, it’s become the site of choice for companies chasing the best possible people to fill any vacancies they may have, so not being on LinkedIn could be a mistake.

When LinkedIn first started, it worked primarily as a networking site. Colleagues could join groups and networks, send each other messages and make contact with new employees, but it has since expanded to accommodate recruiters who can find people with the necessary skills to fill any roles they have available, be they permanent, temporary or on a freelance basis.

Make the most of it
If you’ve never used LinkedIn before or if you have a basic profile that has been left untouched for months or years, it’s definitely worthwhile logging on and seeing what you can do. When registering, you need to set up a profile where you:

• List your employment history. Start with the most recent.
• Tell visitors a little about yourself. Don’t give too much detail. Just highlight some basic key points about yourself. A small bio description that represents what you are good at, what motivates you and what your ambitions are. A biography description is the first thing someone will notice so this is a real chance to sell your-self. You can visit sites like cite.com to help you get started with a correct bio structure.
• List all the skills you have that you feel are relevant to vacancies you may be interested in
• Connect to a network – it could be your region, industry or, most likely, your current employer
• Connect to any of your contacts – they could be co-workers, bosses, former colleagues or even former employers.
• List your qualifications – include any degrees, bachelors or post-graduate
• A recent improvement made to LinkedIn was the ability to endorse any of your connections and receive them yourself. If you endorse a colleague, there’s every chance they could do the same for you. In theory, the more endorsements your profile gets will surely impress any recruiter who comes across your profile, but there’s more you might need to do.

Searching for it
When using LinkedIn Recruiter, you should do the following:

• Type in a search term relevant to the job you’re looking for. This is a basic for every job search site, but LinkedIn Recruiter is likely to come up with search results tailored to what your profile says
• Select jobs you want to/have applied for. Then, you can track them to see if they’re still available, as well as the number of page views and applications the role has received
• For recruiters, set up a status update stream which monitors applicants and candidates for each role. Also, on the right-hand column, a box featuring ‘people you may want to hire’ has suggestions for possible candidates. Clicking on their profile won’t do any harm

The Recruiter platform does cost money to use, so it’s important to get the most out of it. Creating the perfect LinkedIn profile is a start, but knowing how to stand out from the crowd of potential candidates is of equal importance.

Adding a presentable, professional-looking picture, getting endorsements from anyone who’s ever worked with you (that has positive things to say) plus links to any personal sites where you’re showcasing your talents are necessary to help make your experience with the entire LinkedIn site worth it.

Changes in the fabric of the internet? Blink and you’ll miss them. You really have to be on the ball to spot the seismic shifts experienced on a weekly and monthly basis within the World Wide Web. Here are a few that we’re noticing this year.

M-Commerce

You thought you needed to up your E-Commerce game? While you were working on that, the rest of the world was getting on with M-Commerce – taking advantage of the astounding growth being experienced in the world of mobile browsing. At the moment Groupon make 45% of their sales through mobile devices, which gives an idea of just how important M-Commerce is becoming. Sales of smartphones and tablets are growing at an exponential rate, so we can confidently predict M-Commerce to go through the roof in the coming months.

Data

Unbelievably, YouTube adds around 100 Hours of video content to the web every minute! That is an incredible statistic, and highlights just how much data we are now uploading and consuming. Of course, most of this is coming through from a range of social media inlet points – Pinterest, Vine, Twitter and Instagram being the chief culprits. We’re seeing a huge boom of digital information, be it Tweets, posts, movies, photos or documents. Let’s hope the internet is big enough for all of this!

Apps

No prizes for guessing that apps are big business and set to continue in an upward arc. With the increase of smartphone and tablet sales, the increase in the number of apps created along with units shifted is assumed. These days apps are getting smarter too, thanks to the capabilities of new smart phones. These days you can even find an app which will direct a cab to your location through GPS, with the touch of a button. No wonder we love apps so much!

Getting Info on the Spot

We love this development. Wherever you go these days, you’ll probably stumble upon a QR code. These codes can go on absolutely anything, and give viewers access to the information you want them to receive, relevant to what they are looking at in the real world. Seeing QR codes in shops and shopping malls is becoming more and more common, and believe it or not, the British Embassy in China even has a QR code which directs people to information regarding the country of China and its people!

Digital Advertising on the Up

Although firms are yet to really grab the nettle, more and more companies are ditching old fashioned, low conversion advert space like print and other traditional media outlets, and opting for online digital advertising and marketing. Results tend to be stronger, and results easier to measure and monitor. Of course, businesses focusing on engagement are set to be more successful than those merely replicating old media ads on the internet. The message here kids is to stop and think before you splurge your cash on an ill informed set of ads for the internet that look like, erm, newspaper ads!

Adam Livermore lives and breathes SEO and all things digital, but when he gets the chance to drag himself away from his work at http://www.consult3.co.uk he loves to spend time with his family.

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Those who keep tabs on tech news may have noticed the many security-related headlines that have been flooding the web. From password tips to enhanced privacy features and two-factor authentication, the biggest names in social media and the Internet have been scrambling to reassure users that they’re doing their best to protect them. Why all the brouhaha when account hacking isn’t exactly a new issue?

For one thing, people rely more and more on the Internet today than they did yesterday. It’s used for monetary and business transactions aside from the everyday messaging, communications and information gathering, so it’s all the more important to secure your accounts.

To get you started, here are some misconceptions about passwords, along with what the experts have to say about them:

The weirder the character combination, the more secure it is.

Think that all those dollar and pound signs, numbers, capitalized letters and exclamation marks makes your password hacker-proof? According to Seth Rosenblatt of CNET, it helps, but isn’t all that necessary. Hackers use machines to crack passwords, and it’s actually easier for them to figure out character-centric passwords than those made up of several random words. Rosenblatt advises users to formulate multiword passwords separated by spaces. Many people may not be aware of it, but services such as Google, Facebook and Twitter do allow the use of spaces in their passwords.

Alex Salazar, CEO of authentication service Stormpath, adds that users should maximize the password specifications of their websites, making their passwords 12 to 14 characters long as much as possible.

It’s okay to reuse my password as long as it’s a complicated, “secure” one.

With the scores of services that require passwords, including email accounts, social networking sites, online marketplaces and cloud storages, it’s hard to keep track of them all. An easy solution some might resort to is memorizing one “secure” password and using it for several sites.

Don’t!

Mary Landesman of Cisco says that no matter how strong you think your password is, it’s rendered weak if you use it for more than one website. Salazar reasons that hackers can gain access to large, highly secure websites when you use the same password for a smaller, more easy to target website. Even though it may be a headache to keep track of, designate different passwords for each of your accounts.

I’m not a VIP user and I don’t have anything to hide, so I don’t need to worry about hackers targeting me.

So you aren’t a media personality and you don’t hold important trade secrets. You’re still at risk of exposing your email contacts to viruses or compromising your online bank account. It’s always better to be proactive and safe rather than leaving yourself vulnerable to unwanted attacks. Take advantage of the security measures made available by your frequented websites, such as the two-factor authentication feature that’s being adopted by many Internet services these days.

What exactly is two-factor authentication?

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is the use of a secondary level of verification in addition to the standard password login. Rosenblatt explains that 2FA makes use of two of three types of credentials: knowledge (which may be a password, pattern or PIN), a physical item (a smartphone or ATM card) or biometrics (fingerprints or voice print).

When logging in from a device for the first time, services such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Evernote now require users to enter a verification code received via SMS—that’s aside from the user’s password. Similarly, Google has their own Authenticator mobile app, which generates six-digit codes that are only valid for a certain period of time. Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Dropbox are some other sites that make use of 2FA, and it’s important to review each of their guidelines about how to activate this feature. It might sound like a hassle, but it’s an easy enough way to give your accounts additional security.

Is it a hundred percent foolproof? No, but for now, it’s the next best thing.

Related articles

• Twitter Hacks and the case for Two-factor Authentication
• Microsoft integrates two-factor authentication into Active Directory to protect cloud
• Oh .. Did We Tell You About Evernote Two-Factor Authentication?
• FBI Gets Bitten by Operational Security