Comments on: Use Facebook and Gmail? Your Gmail Password May be at Risk! http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/use-facebook-and-gmail-your-gmail-password-may-be-at-risk/ Internet Safety, Windows Updates, Internet News, and More Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:43:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dylan Lloyd http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/use-facebook-and-gmail-your-gmail-password-may-be-at-risk/#comment-1081915 Dylan Lloyd Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:29:32 +0000 http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/?p=2729#comment-1081915 I have been receiving calls on my cell at least twice per day for the last month with the "phone number" 000-000-0000. I've not answered it. If anyone else has, what have they found? I have been receiving calls on my cell at least twice per day for the last month with the “phone number” 000-000-0000. I’ve not answered it. If anyone else has, what have they found?

]]> By: Bob http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/use-facebook-and-gmail-your-gmail-password-may-be-at-risk/#comment-1076763 Bob Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:54:48 +0000 http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/?p=2729#comment-1076763 I frequently get annoyed by sites that lock you in to a predetermined set of questions, none of which are suitable. Sometimes the questions are useless because you have never had the experience (what was the name of your first pet?), are easily guessed or public records (mother's maiden name - hyphenated into your last name), or transient (favorite musician - varies depending on my mood. I don't have a single favorite. Ditto for color). I much prefer to be able to define hints, which may be as simple as a single letter, or a code that acts as a memory key. For instance, a+## might tell me to use my "a" password with two digits appended.. Sites that require me to change my password every XX days, and won't allow me to reuse a password are especially annoying.. These are frequently the ones that provide a password reset, but no hints, and require a special format, but don't tell you the password requirements until you go to reset it. I know which password family I used, but without the hint, I sometimes forget the specific variant. I frequently get annoyed by sites that lock you in to a predetermined set of questions, none of which are suitable.
Sometimes the questions are useless because you have never had the experience (what was the name of your first pet?), are easily guessed or public records (mother’s maiden name - hyphenated into your last name), or transient (favorite musician - varies depending on my mood. I don’t have a single favorite. Ditto for color).

I much prefer to be able to define hints, which may be as simple as a single letter, or a code that acts as a memory key. For instance, a+## might tell me to use my “a” password with two digits appended..

Sites that require me to change my password every XX days, and won’t allow me to reuse a password are especially annoying.. These are frequently the ones that provide a password reset, but no hints, and require a special format, but don’t tell you the password requirements until you go to reset it. I know which password family I used, but without the hint, I sometimes forget the specific variant.

]]> By: Bob http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/use-facebook-and-gmail-your-gmail-password-may-be-at-risk/#comment-1076581 Bob Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:31:03 +0000 http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/?p=2729#comment-1076581 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaccccckkk! I am SO glad you pointed this out. My father's middle name is pretty obscure, but there are still plenty of people who know it, and could have easily hacked my Gmail account using this method. So what about the other questions Google suggests? My library card number? Well the LIBRARIAN knows that, and they also have my email address. Ack! My frequent flyer number? Well SOMEONE at Expedia or my airline know that, and again they also have my Gmail address. Bottom line: You *MUST* create your own security question. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaccccckkk! I am SO glad you pointed this out. My father’s middle name is pretty obscure, but there are still plenty of people who know it, and could have easily hacked my Gmail account using this method. So what about the other questions Google suggests? My library card number? Well the LIBRARIAN knows that, and they also have my email address. Ack! My frequent flyer number? Well SOMEONE at Expedia or my airline know that, and again they also have my Gmail address. Bottom line: You *MUST* create your own security question.

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