A Little Warning To You All...

[sjaak327]

Oh and just to add, usually key loggers are picked up/detected by anti viurs programs and or antispyware programs, so obviously it's important to not only have real time protection, but also to update this regulary, most AV's provide this functionality to do it for you, and you might as well run it hourly, or at least a few times each day, as it won't really kill your bandwith, and new definitions will come out, several times a week, sometimes even several times a day.

Also for our OSX friends, there are antivirus products for OSX as well, these might be instrumental in protecting you from the keyloggers that do exists. I myself use Mcafee Viruscan 8.6.1 on Leopard.

[MarkBKK]

As someone who had to train users on security issues, the best luck I have had with getting users to create complex passwords is as follows.

Yes, it's called a password, but it doesn't have to be made of a word. So to create your new password:

1) Use a line from a song, quote from book or movie, or anything with several words you can memorize easily.

2) Depending on how many words there are, choose the first letter, or first and last letter of each word to use in the new password.

3) Alternate using upper and lower case, or use some other method such as AAbbCCdd, AAAbbbCCCddd, etc.

4) Replace some letters with numbers and special characters. Easy choices are o = 0, e = 3, h = 4, L = 1, a = @. Using the upper case method from step 3, when you hold shift while pressing the number, you now have special characters added in as well.

5) The best part is, you can write down all of the ways you develop your password onto pieces of paper, store them in your office, your wallet, etc., as nobody will know what it's for anyway. Even if they do, they will not know the phrase you are using, or which letters of the words in the phrase you are using. Besides, you're usually trying to keep you password safe from people on the internet who don't have physical access to your house/office/computer, as if they do, they can easily install a keylogger into your OS, your keyboard, or between your keyboard and computer. Also feel free to write the actual phrases down on some other pieces of paper, perhaps along with some other "random notes" to make it blend in. If you have a safe in your house, that would be a good place to store either the phrases you are using or the methods used to create your password from the phrases, but not both!

After a few of days you will have the password(s) memorized just by typing them so you won't need to refer to your cheat sheets unless you've been away from your computer for ages.

Always best to use different passwords for different websites, bank accounts, email accounts, computers. Using the above methods, you shouldn't have to change them to frequently either.

Cheers

Do you really mean that after 24 years I should change the six letter, purely alpha password that I have used for everything since I first thought of it?

Gosh ... if you knew how easy it was for some people to access all (I mean ALL) of your bank details you really wouldn't bother (and these people don't use toys like key loggers).

[dingdongrb]

A friend of mine has just had all of his email addresses hacked, and all of the emails deleted (and downloaded by the hacker) - the hacker is now threatening to send all the confidential, sensitive and embarrassing emails to all his family, business contacts and clients/customers unless he pays X to an account by Thursday. The email addresses were both personal addresses and business addresses.

Looks like he was a little lax on PC security (spyware/malware/keyloggers) and also recorded his passwords in (what he thought was) a secure email account. Now all of his passwords have been changed, and he is unable to get into all of those accounts (except one, which remains open) - all the threats etc are being sent via his email accounts.

I'm not sure how far it will go, or if its just a prank or a hallow threat... sounds and looks fairly serious to me.

So a warning to you all, with some advice to boot.

Change your passwords regularly, use a strong password (that is a password with UPPER case and lower case letters, use numbers and symbols) and never, ever, under any circumstances, give your passwords to anyone. Not even family or friends. Always always ALWAYS keep your computer free of malware & viruses, there are many many products for sale and for free that can assist you with this, some are available in the ThaiVisa.com downloads section, some you can buy/download on the internet.

Most of us are blasé about internet security, taking a 'it wont happen to me' attitude or whatever, but this is a very real reminder that these things can happen, do happen and could happen to you.

Just want to help save you all some embarrassment!

Hey, I really appreciate it that you want to play and be my Mommy. I was wondering if you would hold my hand as I walk across the street tomorrow too? Maybe you should warn all the 'suckers' out there about all the phishing scams going on as well.....

[jumnien]

I use the password "love2008" on all my e-mail and financial accounts. Do you think this is a safe password? Should I have upper case letters as well?

[Crushdepth]

You're joking, right?

[JetsetBkk]

...To get around the headache of remembering loads of strong passwords I like to use password safe...

Thanks for the link - an excellent utility, and similar to one I've used for 10+ years, but much more easy to use simply because of the "groups" feature - the ability to structure the "tree view" so it's quick to find what you need.

...Try KeePass Portable, a bit better imho. All the features of password safe, portable, ....

I'll give that one a go too!

[surface]

Do you really mean that after 24 years I should change the six letter, purely alpha password that I have used for everything since I first thought of it?

That would be a good idea.

Gosh ... if you knew how easy it was for some people to access all (I mean ALL) of your bank details you really wouldn't bother (and these people don't use toys like key loggers).

And... ? Please enlighten us guru.

[Wolfie]

Hey, I really appreciate it that you want to play and be my Mommy. I was wondering if you would hold my hand as I walk across the street tomorrow too? Maybe you should warn all the 'suckers' out there about all the phishing scams going on as well.....

No no, not at all, i wouldn't want to do that... in fact, with the sarcasm in your reply, i would much prefer it if you got hacked and screwed over... your the kind of numpty idiot that deserves it.

Some people just cant read sensible advice without choosing to attack and flame... maybe, just maybe my post might help some people from getting hacked whilst the 'it will never happen to me' suckers, such as yourself, go on believing these things only happen to 'other' people. Good luck mate, sounds like you will need it one day.

[MarkBKK]

Do you really mean that after 24 years I should change the six letter, purely alpha password that I have used for everything since I first thought of it?

That would be a good idea.

Gosh ... if you knew how easy it was for some people to access all (I mean ALL) of your bank details you really wouldn't bother (and these people don't use toys like key loggers).

And... ? Please enlighten us guru.

Far from a guru, I'm afraid. Most people that steal your money using a computer work for banks/financial institutions. They don't need key loggers. They have direct access to your account/money.

[surface]

Do you really mean that after 24 years I should change the six letter, purely alpha password that I have used for everything since I first thought of it?

That would be a good idea.

Gosh ... if you knew how easy it was for some people to access all (I mean ALL) of your bank details you really wouldn't bother (and these people don't use toys like key loggers).

And... ? Please enlighten us guru.

Far from a guru, I'm afraid. Most people that steal your money using a computer work for banks/financial institutions. They don't need key loggers. They have direct access to your account/money.

I don't put my money in small banks with such lax security, so that's one thing I don't have to worry too much about. I do know what you mean though, as something by a bank employee was tried on a Thai friend of mine, at SCB I believe, but that was more of a social scam based on the ATM card, and the account was closed quickly before anything could be stolen.

[MarkBKK]

Do you really mean that after 24 years I should change the six letter, purely alpha password that I have used for everything since I first thought of it?

That would be a good idea.

Gosh ... if you knew how easy it was for some people to access all (I mean ALL) of your bank details you really wouldn't bother (and these people don't use toys like key loggers).

And... ? Please enlighten us guru.

Far from a guru, I'm afraid. Most people that steal your money using a computer work for banks/financial institutions. They don't need key loggers. They have direct access to your account/money.

I don't put my money in small banks with such lax security, so that's one thing I don't have to worry too much about. I do know what you mean though, as something by a bank employee was tried on a Thai friend of mine, at SCB I believe, but that was more of a social scam based on the ATM card, and the account was closed quickly before anything could be stolen.

I was referring to UK/US and European retail banks. I suppose the same thing happens here though. Never really thought about it. Maybe the apparent lack of (the use of?) IT in the Thai banking system (intra-bank transfers, etc.) may actually reduce the problem here ...

[withnail]

I've been thinking about doing something with all my passwords for a while because for years they have all been one of about 3 different regular choices. This has been the nudge that I've needed, so thanks. Thanks Crushdepth also for the link, I've just installed password safe and within minutes all of my sites and accounts now have a unique password I don't have to remember. I've got a copy of it on the PC and USB so I'm pretty safe now.

Edited July 11, 2008 by withnail

[dingdongrb]

Hey, I really appreciate it that you want to play and be my Mommy. I was wondering if you would hold my hand as I walk across the street tomorrow too? Maybe you should warn all the 'suckers' out there about all the phishing scams going on as well.....

No no, not at all, i wouldn't want to do that... in fact, with the sarcasm in your reply, i would much prefer it if you got hacked and screwed over... your the kind of numpty idiot that deserves it.

Some people just cant read sensible advice without choosing to attack and flame... maybe, just maybe my post might help some people from getting hacked whilst the 'it will never happen to me' suckers, such as yourself, go on believing these things only happen to 'other' people. Good luck mate, sounds like you will need it one day.

I am sure it would make your day if I was hacked, but I have been using computers before you probably even knew what one was. (Not that I'm that old, but I have been in the electronics/technical field for over 30 years.) Likewise I have been using BBS way before the great www was known as it is today. And still I have yet to be hacked. I'm not saying that it can't happen, I'm just saying that it hasn't so far and I feel I'm applying all the appropriate measures to keep it that way... And yes, I have done so without your 'helping hand' advice.

And you are correct; I was just being sarcastic about it. I'm sorry if I hurt your 'feelers' as I didn't really mean to. I am sure many others were appreciative of your post. And as I mentioned I am sure there are thousands that would like for you to explain to them how to not get scammed in phishing ploys.... I on the other hand just want you to hold my hand so I can get across the street; you know Thailand traffic is very horrific.

[A_Traveller]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

[MarkBKK]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

Screw all of that ... another CIXen ... here? Gosh!

[dingdongrb]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

'CIX', if I recall, that was ocurring in the mid 80s.... The first computer I was using was a PDP-8 and then progressed to a PDP-11. That of course was while I was still in college. I do remember my first modem connecting to a BBS, it was a 'Hayes' 2400 baud....

Regardless, my stick may not big bigger than your stick, but I just thought the OP was wanting to hold my hand. Yes, the follow-up posts were very informative for those that may want to use an application in order to create passwords and remember them. But come'on for someone to tell me that I need to change my PW every so often, what content it must have, and the reason for PWs, just makes for a boring post to me. So shoot me that I mocked it. As the point I made, there are other just as important topics that most people know even less about that would be just a valuable (maybe more), such as 'phishing'. Perhaps the OP should create a new post every day with a new subject to keep us all safe from the evils of mankind????

[bangkokrick]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

'CIX', if I recall, that was ocurring in the mid 80s.... The first computer I was using was a PDP-8 and then progressed to a PDP-11. That of course was while I was still in college. I do remember my first modem connecting to a BBS, it was a 'Hayes' 2400 baud....

Regardless, my stick may not big bigger than your stick, but I just thought the OP was wanting to hold my hand. Yes, the follow-up posts were very informative for those that may want to use an application in order to create passwords and remember them. But come'on for someone to tell me that I need to change my PW every so often, what content it must have, and the reason for PWs, just makes for a boring post to me. So shoot me that I mocked it. As the point I made, there are other just as important topics that most people know even less about that would be just a valuable (maybe more), such as 'phishing'. Perhaps the OP should create a new post every day with a new subject to keep us all safe from the evils of mankind????

So why on earth did you read the thread let alone reply to it. The title was explicit enough for you to ignore it if you did not want your hands holding.

I am sure tha a number of novice internet and computer users have benefited from the OP's advice.

Cheers Rick

[dingdongrb]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

'CIX', if I recall, that was ocurring in the mid 80s.... The first computer I was using was a PDP-8 and then progressed to a PDP-11. That of course was while I was still in college. I do remember my first modem connecting to a BBS, it was a 'Hayes' 2400 baud....

Regardless, my stick may not big bigger than your stick, but I just thought the OP was wanting to hold my hand. Yes, the follow-up posts were very informative for those that may want to use an application in order to create passwords and remember them. But come'on for someone to tell me that I need to change my PW every so often, what content it must have, and the reason for PWs, just makes for a boring post to me. So shoot me that I mocked it. As the point I made, there are other just as important topics that most people know even less about that would be just a valuable (maybe more), such as 'phishing'. Perhaps the OP should create a new post every day with a new subject to keep us all safe from the evils of mankind????

So why on earth did you read the thread let alone reply to it. The title was explicit enough for you to ignore it if you did not want your hands holding.

I am sure tha a number of novice internet and computer users have benefited from the OP's advice.

Cheers Rick

Thanks for the concern and expressing your curiosity but the title as well as any title here on TV forum does not detail all that is written into that post, does it? No, that is why you must open the post in order to get the full content. That is unless someone has super powers and can absorb every detail of the post by just reading a post’s title. Get real please; I opened the post as I wanted to know what it contained.

Why I replied, you ask? The same reason you replied to my response, everyone has opinions and I think if I recall it is an open forum where I can express mine just as you have yours. I did no harm in calling anyone names or trying to really instigate anything. (i.e. ‘trolling’) I was merely making a little humor about ‘holding my hand when crossing the street’ as well as expressing my opinion. There are other subject matters for the so called novices that are probably not as well known as changing PWs. Example: If you were to poll 100 PC users and asked them what a PW means and how they use it, I would speculate that a much higher percentage would be able to answer appropriately versus polling 100 PC about ‘phishing’. Your thoughts?

[bangkokrick]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

'CIX', if I recall, that was ocurring in the mid 80s.... The first computer I was using was a PDP-8 and then progressed to a PDP-11. That of course was while I was still in college. I do remember my first modem connecting to a BBS, it was a 'Hayes' 2400 baud....

Regardless, my stick may not big bigger than your stick, but I just thought the OP was wanting to hold my hand. Yes, the follow-up posts were very informative for those that may want to use an application in order to create passwords and remember them. But come'on for someone to tell me that I need to change my PW every so often, what content it must have, and the reason for PWs, just makes for a boring post to me. So shoot me that I mocked it. As the point I made, there are other just as important topics that most people know even less about that would be just a valuable (maybe more), such as 'phishing'. Perhaps the OP should create a new post every day with a new subject to keep us all safe from the evils of mankind????

So why on earth did you read the thread let alone reply to it. The title was explicit enough for you to ignore it if you did not want your hands holding.

I am sure tha a number of novice internet and computer users have benefited from the OP's advice.

Cheers Rick

Thanks for the concern and expressing your curiosity but the title as well as any title here on TV forum does not detail all that is written into that post, does it? No, that is why you must open the post in order to get the full content. That is unless someone has super powers and can absorb every detail of the post by just reading a post’s title. Get real please; I opened the post as I wanted to know what it contained.

Why I replied, you ask? The same reason you replied to my response, everyone has opinions and I think if I recall it is an open forum where I can express mine just as you have yours. I did no harm in calling anyone names or trying to really instigate anything. (i.e. ‘trolling’) I was merely making a little humor about ‘holding my hand when crossing the street’ as well as expressing my opinion. There are other subject matters for the so called novices that are probably not as well known as changing PWs. Example: If you were to poll 100 PC users and asked them what a PW means and how they use it, I would speculate that a much higher percentage would be able to answer appropriately versus polling 100 PC about ‘phishing’. Your thoughts?

The title of the post was obviously referring to the use of strong passwords. If you are so concerned about people falling foul to phishing why don't you write something constructive that will help them protect against these dangers. I think that it would be more acceptable than having an attack of sarcasm against the OP.

Cheers, Rick

[dingdongrb]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

'CIX', if I recall, that was ocurring in the mid 80s.... The first computer I was using was a PDP-8 and then progressed to a PDP-11. That of course was while I was still in college. I do remember my first modem connecting to a BBS, it was a 'Hayes' 2400 baud....

Regardless, my stick may not big bigger than your stick, but I just thought the OP was wanting to hold my hand. Yes, the follow-up posts were very informative for those that may want to use an application in order to create passwords and remember them. But come'on for someone to tell me that I need to change my PW every so often, what content it must have, and the reason for PWs, just makes for a boring post to me. So shoot me that I mocked it. As the point I made, there are other just as important topics that most people know even less about that would be just a valuable (maybe more), such as 'phishing'. Perhaps the OP should create a new post every day with a new subject to keep us all safe from the evils of mankind????

So why on earth did you read the thread let alone reply to it. The title was explicit enough for you to ignore it if you did not want your hands holding.

I am sure tha a number of novice internet and computer users have benefited from the OP's advice.

Cheers Rick

Thanks for the concern and expressing your curiosity but the title as well as any title here on TV forum does not detail all that is written into that post, does it? No, that is why you must open the post in order to get the full content. That is unless someone has super powers and can absorb every detail of the post by just reading a post's title. Get real please; I opened the post as I wanted to know what it contained.

Why I replied, you ask? The same reason you replied to my response, everyone has opinions and I think if I recall it is an open forum where I can express mine just as you have yours. I did no harm in calling anyone names or trying to really instigate anything. (i.e. 'trolling') I was merely making a little humor about 'holding my hand when crossing the street' as well as expressing my opinion. There are other subject matters for the so called novices that are probably not as well known as changing PWs. Example: If you were to poll 100 PC users and asked them what a PW means and how they use it, I would speculate that a much higher percentage would be able to answer appropriately versus polling 100 PC about 'phishing'. Your thoughts?

The title of the post was obviously referring to the use of strong passwords. If you are so concerned about people falling foul to phishing why don't you write something constructive that will help them protect against these dangers. I think that it would be more acceptable than having an attack of sarcasm against the OP.

Cheers, Rick

WOW! You have 'super powers'.... I didn't read the title as a post for using 'strong passwords' like you obviously did, I read it as to changing PWs regularly. And I just used 'phishing' as an example of what others would likely need to know rather than changing PWs. There are many more sujects that I feel (this is just an opinon, as hopefully you know what opinions are like???) are less know to those novice PC users, and one that quickly comes to mind in regards to PWs is perhaps to PW protect your wireless router. I'm am sure there are many more important.... And yes, I could write a post on 'phishing' but it would be easier to just provide a link that could tell you more.....Happy reading...... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

PS...Also sorry if my 'sarcasm' hurt your 'feelers' as well...

[bangkokrick]

^ Whilst accepting, presumably, you see such comments as witty, I do take the old fashioned view that a professional in a field has a responsibility to provide guidance to those who might not be so 'cursed'. Equally I see things here to which I could 'wittily' reply' did you read The Blindingly Obvious at University then?', but I simply take the view that, providing the data is valid, it is foolish to flaunt alleged {we can all claim anything here} knowledge when such a response may, in point of fact, dissuade someone from taking steps to protect themselves.

I'd agree if your point was that many issues are caused by 'The lose nut in front of the keyboard', but everyone was a No0b once, and FWIW I can still recall cix, bix and green screen BBS'.

Regards

'CIX', if I recall, that was ocurring in the mid 80s.... The first computer I was using was a PDP-8 and then progressed to a PDP-11. That of course was while I was still in college. I do remember my first modem connecting to a BBS, it was a 'Hayes' 2400 baud....

Regardless, my stick may not big bigger than your stick, but I just thought the OP was wanting to hold my hand. Yes, the follow-up posts were very informative for those that may want to use an application in order to create passwords and remember them. But come'on for someone to tell me that I need to change my PW every so often, what content it must have, and the reason for PWs, just makes for a boring post to me. So shoot me that I mocked it. As the point I made, there are other just as important topics that most people know even less about that would be just a valuable (maybe more), such as 'phishing'. Perhaps the OP should create a new post every day with a new subject to keep us all safe from the evils of mankind????

So why on earth did you read the thread let alone reply to it. The title was explicit enough for you to ignore it if you did not want your hands holding.

I am sure tha a number of novice internet and computer users have benefited from the OP's advice.

Cheers Rick

Thanks for the concern and expressing your curiosity but the title as well as any title here on TV forum does not detail all that is written into that post, does it? No, that is why you must open the post in order to get the full content. That is unless someone has super powers and can absorb every detail of the post by just reading a post's title. Get real please; I opened the post as I wanted to know what it contained.

Why I replied, you ask? The same reason you replied to my response, everyone has opinions and I think if I recall it is an open forum where I can express mine just as you have yours. I did no harm in calling anyone names or trying to really instigate anything. (i.e. 'trolling') I was merely making a little humor about 'holding my hand when crossing the street' as well as expressing my opinion. There are other subject matters for the so called novices that are probably not as well known as changing PWs. Example: If you were to poll 100 PC users and asked them what a PW means and how they use it, I would speculate that a much higher percentage would be able to answer appropriately versus polling 100 PC about 'phishing'. Your thoughts?

The title of the post was obviously referring to the use of strong passwords. If you are so concerned about people falling foul to phishing why don't you write something constructive that will help them protect against these dangers. I think that it would be more acceptable than having an attack of sarcasm against the OP.

Cheers, Rick

WOW! You have 'super powers'.... I didn't read the title as a post for using 'strong passwords' like you obviously did, I read it as to changing PWs regularly. And I just used 'phishing' as an example of what others would likely need to know rather than changing PWs. There are many more sujects that I feel (this is just an opinon, as hopefully you know what opinions are like???) are less know to those novice PC users, and one that quickly comes to mind in regards to PWs is perhaps to PW protect your wireless router. I'm am sure there are many more important.... And yes, I could write a post on 'phishing' but it would be easier to just provide a link that could tell you more.....Happy reading...... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

PS...Also sorry if my 'sarcasm' hurt your 'feelers' as well...

I did not realise that i have super powers so thanks for brining that one to light. I will try the spin in the telephone box later today to see if it works.

In my opinion the OP has provided a reminder to people who might otherwise have overlooked changing their passwords on a rgular basis, so i dont see any harm in that. The OP has in the past also provided invaluable information and helped TV users that have had a problem with their PC's along with the other users that contributed to this thread. The only person that has taken umbridge over this is you? Maybe it's time that you took that microchip off your shoulder.

Cheers, Rick

[MarkBKK]

I still use the same password that I used to use for CIX. I think it might still be going. I remember finding a CIX web site a few years ago and was surprised to discover I still had an account.

[old fart]

I used to dream of a Hayes 2400 baud modem ... no, actually, I didn't. That's a lie. I used to long for a 1200 baud modem. 300 was soooooo slooooow. It certainly puts Thai Internet access speeds into perspective.

[/old fart]

[bustedmirror]

I did not realise that i have super powers so thanks for brining that one to light. I will try the spin in the telephone box later today to see if it works.

In my opinion the OP has provided a reminder to people who might otherwise have overlooked changing their passwords on a rgular basis, so i dont see any harm in that. The OP has in the past also provided invaluable information and helped TV users that have had a problem with their PC's along with the other users that contributed to this thread. The only person that has taken umbridge over this is you? Maybe it's time that you took that microchip off your shoulder.

Cheers, Rick

I really don't think that ding dong was talking about the past posts of the OP. I found the info in the original post to be rather mundane myself

[clokwise]

I will try to put this thread back on track....

A Thai female friend of mine recently met some psycho farang on camfrog, who soon became totally obsessed with her. He hacked her notebook and installed VNC so he could watch everything she read or typed. He also downloaded her private nud_e pics and then threatened her to be his girlfriend or else he would delete her computer HD and send those pics to her family and her school (whose addresses he managed to acquire by pilfering her Sent Mail box). The girl played along with him but he wasn't satisfied so he hijacked her camfrog id and then showed her nud_e photos in the chat rooms (of course if you've ever used camfrog you'd know that that would be quite dull compared to what usually goes on there). Apparently the pics were also delivered to family but were safely intercepted. He failed to delete her computer, probably because he knew once it went down he would no longer have access to her. She got a new computer anyway and is safe for the moment. She knows who the guy is now, and the dimwit is probably about to lose his job over this (he's a well paid American technology contractor in Iraq).

Her observations :

* When Windows says "Install critical updates now", don't keep clicking Cancel for months on end.

* Always lock your private snaps and data in a secure drive such as TrueCrypt

* Don't ever use any permutation of your birthday as your password, nor anything guessable from your public profile

* 99.999% of farang men on camfrog of sick and desperate losers and not worth contacting (funny thing is, she's a lesbian, but I actually think she's not far off -- oops sorry if I have just offended 99.999% of the men reading this)

[cathyy]

To get around the headache of remembering loads of strong passwords I like to use password safe (simple and free utility from the guy that wrote the Twofish encryption algorithm). Things it can do are:

* Organise and store your passwords in strongly encrypted form.

* Generate extremely strong random passwords of whatever length.

* Copy to clipboard/automatically clear the clipboard.

* Can be installed on a USB key.

Basically, I don't know any of my passwords anymore. They are all random junk and all my sites/logins are unique. I just have to remember the master password to the safe.

Me, too. There is a great app to do this for OS X called 1Password. Not free, but cheap and worth several times the cost. It also can enter your personal information, including credit card numbers, into web forms so that you need never type any of it...no worries about keyloggers.

[surface]

Me, too. There is a great app to do this for OS X called 1Password. Not free, but cheap and worth several times the cost. It also can enter your personal information, including credit card numbers, into web forms so that you need never type any of it...no worries about keyloggers.

The keyloggers I've seen monitor the clipboard, so while the feature may be useful, it will not protect you from software based keyloggers.

[klikster]

I am sure it would make your day if I was hacked, but I have been using computers before you probably even knew what one was. (Not that I'm that old, but I have been in the electronics/technical field for over 30 years.)

Um .. kind of a rookie, huh? I was breadboarding circuits, making chassis with Greenlee punches and wiring by hand with vacuum tubes and discrete components since the CK 722 was a new and useless toy.

*slap* be nice!

[A_Traveller]

This is turning into a Monty Python sketch, 'ha!. You had a whole shoebox, ... I had to lick the read clean' etc.. So who's up for cats whiskers & crystal set listening to 2LO {no not me }.

Regards

Edited July 13, 2008 by A_Traveller

[cathyy]

The keyloggers I've seen monitor the clipboard, so while the feature may be useful, it will not protect you from software based keyloggers.

Yes, it will. It doesn't use the clipboard. 1Password website Read up on it. Windows should have something so elegant.

[klikster]

This is turning into a Monty Python sketch, 'ha!. You had a whole shoebox, ... I had to lick the read clean' etc.. So who's up for cats whiskers & crystal set listening to 2LO {no not me }.

Regards

LOL!. Our first telephone was on an 8 party line, no dial .. talk to the operator .. "Hey, who is eavesdropping on my conversation?"

Being old is bad enough, give us a little bit of slack.