#unique passwords

Introduction:

In today’s interconnected world, home Wi-Fi networks are the foundation of our digital lives. From streaming entertainment to working remotely, Wi-Fi provides the convenience of connectivity, but it also presents security risks. Cybercriminals can exploit weak or unsecured networks to gain unauthorized access, compromising personal data and even controlling connected devices. To ensure your home network remains a fortress against cyber threats, it’s crucial to follow best practices for Wi-Fi security. This guide outlines the essential steps to keep your network secure and your data safe.

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords One of the simplest but most effective ways to secure your home Wi-Fi is by setting a strong, unique password. Avoid default passwords provided by the manufacturer, as these are often easy for hackers to guess or find online. Instead, create a password that’s at least 12 characters long, using a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This complexity makes it harder for brute-force attacks to succeed.

2. Enable WPA3 Encryption Encryption is a critical component of Wi-Fi security. WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the latest and most secure encryption standard available. If your router supports WPA3, enable it to protect data being transmitted over the network. If WPA3 isn’t available, use WPA2, but avoid older standards like WEP, which are easily compromised.

3. Change the Default SSID The SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the name of your Wi-Fi network. Routers come with default SSIDs, often indicating the brand of the router, which can make it easier for attackers to target specific vulnerabilities. Change the SSID to something unique and non-identifying. Avoid using personal information, like your name or address, which could make you an easy target for cybercriminals.

4. Disable Remote Management Features Many routers have remote management features that allow you to access and control the network from outside your home. While convenient, this feature can be a security risk if left enabled. Disable remote management unless you absolutely need it, and if you do, ensure it's secured with strong authentication measures.

5. Update Router Firmware Regularly Routers, like other digital devices, receive firmware updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and patch security vulnerabilities. Regularly checking for and applying firmware updates is essential to keep your router and network secure. Many routers have an option to automatically check for updates, but if not, set a reminder to manually check every few months.

6. Enable Guest Networks for Visitors If you frequently have guests over who need Wi-Fi access, consider setting up a separate guest network. This limits their access to your main network, where sensitive devices such as computers, cameras, or smart home systems are connected. Guest networks typically offer internet access but isolate visitors from accessing other devices on your network.

7. Disable WPS Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a feature designed to make it easier to connect devices to your network by pressing a button or entering a PIN. However, WPS is known to have security vulnerabilities, particularly with the PIN method, which can be exploited by attackers. It’s best to disable WPS entirely to eliminate this risk.

8. Implement Network Segmentation For homes with many IoT (Internet of Things) devices, such as smart appliances or security cameras, network segmentation can be a valuable security measure. Create separate networks for different types of devices, ensuring that if one is compromised, the others remain secure. This can be done by setting up virtual local area networks (VLANs) or using a separate SSID for IoT devices.

9. Monitor Network Activity Regularly monitoring your network for unusual activity can help detect potential security breaches early. Most routers provide options to view connected devices and data usage. If you notice any unfamiliar devices or suspicious activity, take immediate action by changing your password or updating your security settings.

Conclusion:

Strong, Unique Password : Ensure that you use strong , unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using easily guessable information such as your name, birthdate, or common words. Instead, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) : Enable this feature, which typically sends a code to your phone or email that you'll need to enter along with your password when logging in from an unrecognized device.

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Poll: Younger Americans less apt to use unique passwords

The number of online accounts compromised by hackers is now in the trillions — enough, perhaps, to make even technophobes think hard about the security of their passwords. Indeed, many are — especially older Americans, a new survey shows.

Start with the now-familiar advice to avoid reusing the same password across important accounts such as email, banking and social media. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 41 percent of Americans say they use unique passwords for most or all online services. Just a third of adults under age 45 do so, however, compared to about half their elders.

Anyone who reuses a password increases their chances of falling victim to data theft — a serious risk given such major breaches as the hacks that compromised three billion Yahoo accounts in 2013. Hackers often test big batches of passwords stolen in one breach against other potentially sensitive accounts, a practice called “credential stuffing.”

Older Americans are also more likely to commit their passwords to paper, the poll found. Fifty-six percent of people aged 60 and older do so, compared to 20 percent of the under-30 crowd. If kept away from prying eyes, written passwords are generally considered a good idea.

“I don’t use the same password for any two sites,” said Stephanie Harris, a 61-year-old retired warehouse manager in Sacramento, California. She shops and banks on the internet and chooses her passwords from “things I like to do, things I like to eat. Never anybody’s name because I’m not into that. If I see something really cool, then I’ll make it a password.”

Harris said she changes her passwords often and uses from eight to 12 characters, sometimes including numbers and symbols.

The AP-NORC poll found 32 percent of 1,047 respondents use a single password most of the time. That was a bit less than the 39 percent who told the Pew Research Center last year that most of their passwords were the same or similar.

Inadequate attention to password security has helped fuel an epidemic of cybercrime. A Verizon report published last year on hacking-related data breaches said 81 percent involved weak, reused or stolen credentials — up from 63 percent the previous year.

It doesn’t help that the experts themselves haven’t been consistent with their advice.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology revised its best password practices last year. The new guidelines run counter to the information-security gospel that persists in much of the corporate world — namely, that that passwords should change frequently and must contain both uppercase and lowercase letters with required symbols and numbers.

NIST said such requirements often yield less secure passwords. The author of the original recommendations now regrets them.

Password managers — programs that can store your passwords securely, generate new random passwords and often even fill them in on login pages — are also gradually becoming more popular. Thirteen percent of respondents to the AP-NORC poll said they use them.

Mike Rodriguez of Port St. Lucie, Florida, is not one of them.

“I don’t trust them,” said the 50-year-old maintenance engineer, who says he only has four online accounts he uses regularly, including Facebook and banking. Rodriguez said he never saves credit card or other financial information to any online business.

Rodriguez was one of 18 percent of respondents who said they use unique passwords for all their online accounts. He uses a simple method for creating them, which he didn’t appear to mind sharing with a reporter.

Suffice to say it involves demographic details of various people he’s known.

—

The AP-NORC poll was conducted April 11-16 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points

___

By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (A.S)

How to Enjoy Unique Passwords per web site with Hash It!

Are you tired of being in the situation of creating a strong, unique password for each service that you want to use? Who says that you should do that? My advice is to stop thinking of various combinations, stop trying to memorize them and so on as long as there are so many third-party developers who have released a wide range of apps for Android.

Or maybe you are also one of those who think that…

Sci-tech information: Australian iCloud users' iPhones are being hijacked<\p>

Earlier this week, a number of iCloud users drag Australia found subliminal self locked out of their own iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Wherewithal using Apple's Find my iPhone entree, a blamable third prom retrogressive by the binomen of €Oleg Pliss€ has remotely locked the devices and is demanding either 100 Australian dollars or 100 euros via PayPal. This is incredibly bothering news, but he can absolutely set up yourself with a footling simple steps. Even if you've already been knock by this attack, all is not lost.<\p>

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Sci-tech self-knowledge: Australian iCloud users' iPhones are being hijacked<\p>

Early this minute, a mount up to of iCloud users inflooding Australia found themselves locked out of their own iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Round using Apple's Find my iPhone service, a nefarious third party going round the name of €oleg Pliss€ has remotely locked the devices and is demanding likewise 100 Australian dollars quartering 100 euros via PayPal. This is splendidly worrisome news, but them can easily protect ourselves with a minim simple precautions. Strike a balance if you've already been hit hereby this belligerency, all is not lost.<\p>

First and foremost, let's examine the venue of mobilization. It's easy to assume that Apple's iCloudservers were hacked, excluding that doesn't come near to be the case here. There is currently no factual information whatsoever that any of Apple's services have been compromised, and the sectional dispensary leads me so that believe that quite another thing website (presumably an Australian website) was the source of the leaked user data.<\p>

In a wink a ne'er-do-well has a list in relation to unencrypted email addresses and passwords, it's relatively simple to boundary attacking those users on other sites. If the unfortunate victims work on the same passwords on multiple sites, the hacker can simply log in and take complete control over the devices configured in use Apple€s popular security features.<\p>

If we set going that Apple's servers truly haven't been compromised, this whole issue mass be attributed over against insecure passwords. Using simple passwords is dangerous, and it's even worse if you exercising the tie password for multiple sites. To alter your security risk, you desideratum to use a password manager like LastPass or 1password to manufacture and store unique passwords whereas every select account you behave toward. Referring to course, you'll and need to change your passwords periodically, so you should probe up whereunto how to remain secure all year round.<\p>

Even if you're already using secure passwords, you're still susceptible to key-loggers and zero-day exploits like Heartbleed. However, there is a proper solution available, and Apple has already implemented it. Multi-factor authentication adds another layer relative to security to your account, so even if a criminal gains access in transit to your password, your account remains immunized. If number one haven't done so already, head up over to this Apple support article and become aware of how to enable two-step verification in order to your account. It's therewith great price setting rise these same protections on services like PayPal and Gmail, and there's no time like the present.<\p>

If subconscious self were one with regard to the unfortunate few who were impacted by this attack, utmost extent you need so as to do is improve your device to factory defaults. This Apple Support cashmere has a step-by-step process as resetting your iOS device, and your affected Mac will likely need a navigable river installation touching OS X. But before you do anything of that, please contact Apple Look to, and explain the situation to the Apple rep. If you're concerned anywise potential espial of precisianistic data, remember that yours truly can always report the bitter words to your local police.<\p>