passwords Archives

5 steps to take control of your data

ChatGPT

Every day, it feels like there’s another company saying, “Oops, we lost your info.” Feel helpless? Don’t. I’ve got some smart steps that help lock things down and keep creeps from using your info against you. Let’s jump in.

🔒 Change your username and passwords

If hackers get one of your passwords, they’ll try it everywhere. Don’t make it easy for them.

👉 Make it tough to crack:

Go long and random: Aim for at least 16 characters with upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
Use a passphrase: “BigKimK0mandoF@n!” beats “abc123.”
Lie on security questions: Your mom’s maiden name is a Google search away. Give a fake answer and jot ‘em down somewhere safe.

🔑 Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA)

You’ve probably used this already. It’s that code you get via text or using your fingerprint to log in. MFA makes you 99% less likely to be hacked.

Set it up:

Android: Open your Google Account > Security. Under “How you sign in to Google,” choose Turn on 2-Step Verification and follow the prompts.
iPhone: Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication. Select Add a Trusted Phone Number and follow the steps.

✅ Pro tip: Lock down your payment apps like CashApp, Venmo and Zelle. Here’s how.

🧊 Freeze your credit

This one’s big. If your name, address or Social Security number were exposed, a scammer could open a credit card or take out a loan in your name.

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Set up your Wi-Fi for easy sharing with guests

You’ve got a turkey in the oven, presents need to be wrapped, and your cousin’s kid screams (again), “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” You’re juggling a hundred things at once, and the last thing you want to do is to spell out your password.

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‘How do I reset my old router?’

After I shared my router picks (and so many of you realized you have a TP-Link …), my inbox is flooded with this one: “What do I do with my old router after I upgrade?” Good question. A factory reset wipes your username, password, Wi-Fi network name or SSID, and any security settings.

Step 1: Look for a small button on the back or bottom of your router. It’s usually recessed (so you’ll need a paper clip to press it in) and may be labeled “Reset.”

Step 2: Do a 30-30-30 reset. It’s a bit of a pain but works for every router model I’ve come across. Here’s how:

👉 With your router plugged in, hold down the reset button for 30 seconds.
While still pressing reset, unplug your router from the power source and count for another 30 seconds.
Finally, still holding reset, reconnect the router to the power cord and count another final 30 seconds. Done!

Hackers and scammers don’t want you to use EndpointLock: It stops them from capturing your keystrokes when you enter your usernames, account numbers and passwords. If you bank on your phone or do anything else confidential, you need this. Hit this link for 10% off.

Scan your eyes for crypto

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Forget passwords. The creator of ChatGPT wants to build a global crypto economy by scanning your eyes. Also, Noah from Virginia bought an old laptop and found a kid’s ’90s homework saved on it. He read it on TikTok and made the internet cry. Plus, an Apple AirPlay hack and the chance to buy your own Waymo.

Microsoft Authenticator changes: It’s ditching password management. At the end of this month, the autofill password feature bites the dust. And by August? Say goodbye to accessing saved passwords in the app at all. I use NordProtect for my password manager.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Say “Alexa, remember this,” and she can store your information like Wi-Fi passwords, recipes, birthdays or gate codes.

Crypto wallet trapdoor: Just do yourself a favor and don’t download any crypto extensions. Why? Over 40 sketchy extensions spoofing legit crypto wallets flooded Firefox’s store, all rigged to steal seed phrases and passwords. Thieves copied open-source code from Coinbase, MetaMask and co., then slid in exfil tools hiding behind glossy logos and fake reviews.

🖨️ Oh, Brother! Millions of Brother printers have default passwords that hackers can reverse-engineer using the serial number. Brother can’t fully fix it via firmware. For the love of toner, change the admin password so your printer doesn’t get hacked.

Think before you “unsubscribe”: That little link at the bottom of emails might clean up your inbox or land you on a fake site. Scammers use it to steal passwords or install malware (paywall link). Play it safe: Hit the unsubscribe button at the top, like in Gmail, or mark it as spam and delete.

Microsoft alert: Starting in June, you won’t be able to save new passwords in their Authenticator app. By July, it’ll stop autofilling passwords and delete saved payment info. Come August, all stored passwords will be wiped. Why? Microsoft’s moving password management to the Edge browser. I’m still not making the switch.

Sam Altman wants your eyeballs — May 3rd, Hour 2

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Forget passwords. The creator of ChatGPT is scanning irises to build a global crypto economy. Also, Noah from Virginia bought an old laptop and found a kid’s ’90s homework saved on it — so he read it on TikTok and made the internet cry. Plus, an Apple AirPlay hack and the chance to buy your own Waymo.

📧 Fake SSA emails: Scammers are sending messages saying, “Your Social Security Statement is now available.” Click download, and you’ll install a remote access tool called ScreenConnect that gives them full control of your computer. Banking info, passwords, everything goes bye-bye. Reminder: The real SSA will never ask you to download random files.

Do you bank on your phone? What about checking email and shopping? If you said “yes” to any of those, you’re a target. A keylogger captures everything you type, including your account numbers and passwords. Encrypt your keystrokes with EndpointLock. Hit this link for 10% off.

⚠️ One of the biggest DDoS attacks: Yep, it’s happening right now. A massive botnet appeared overnight, with hackers hijacking thousands of video recorders. The impact? Multiple online services are getting flooded with so much traffic that they’re crashing. Folks, this is why you should keep your devices updated with the latest firmware and use strong passwords.

Secure every single thing you type: EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes when you enter usernames, account numbers and passwords so no one can copy and steal them. Hit this link for 10% off.

Holiday package scam alert

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Scammers are posing as delivery services with fake package problems. One wrong click, and they’ll swipe your passwords. Here’s how to stop them.