Читать книгу Online Learning For Dummies - Susan Manning - Страница 102

One thing that never fails when you become a part of the Internet community is the number of logins and passwords you need wherever you go. It’s not uncommon for online students to have three or four different passwords just to access school information, depending on the technologies used.

FIGURE 3-5: A sample URL of an unsecure site.

Thinking of a password can be fun! Most institutions require 8 to 12 digits for a password, and many ask for a combination of letters, numbers, capitals, and, sometimes, symbols. For your own security, don’t choose the obvious; instead, think of something unique to you, similar to a vanity license plate. You’ll have a chuckle every time you log in. For example, a ghost hunter might select “ICg0sts2!” (I see ghosts, too!) The password “2kds1DG*” might be perfect for someone with two small children and one big dog.

When it comes to passwords, here are a few dangerous practices to avoid:

 Don’t write your passwords on a sticky note that you attach to your monitor or on a piece of paper that’s the first thing you see when you open the top drawer of your desk. This is a common, but dangerous, practice. Be sure to keep your information safe from the public’s view.

 Don’t have your computer remember your passwords for you. This is especially true if you share your computer or use a laptop that you take different places with you. If your computer is stolen, the person who stole it now has access to your secure information.

 Don’t use the same password for all protected sites. Though it seems harmless and efficient, having the same password for everything makes you vulnerable if your information is ever compromised. Choose a different password for each site, and change your passwords frequently.

One way to remember all your passwords and keep them secure is to store them in an encrypted password manager program such as 1Password (https://1password.com. These programs also help generate random passwords to help make your password more secure. The advantage to such programs is that you have to remember only a single password — the one that’s used to unlock the password manager program. Most password managers come with secure browser plugins that allow you to access passwords immediately upon visiting a site where a password is needed. After you enter your program password, it automatically fills in your login credentials and password for you. These programs can also be accessed online or via mobile devices so that they’re with you at all times.

Never give your password information to anyone, even technical support staff. They may have to reset your existing password in order to solve a particular problem, but they should have access to everything they need without asking you to share your password.