Important Public Service Announcement!

[Tom S.]

We have recently had three longstanding members have their account compromised. Our IT gurus assure us it is NOT a system problem.

How many people use the same password on multiple sites? When you access multiple places that require a password, which is standard practice nowdays, most people fall into the practice of reusing the same password so they can remember it. Hardly a week goes by when we don't read about some place getting hacked, and when they do, the hackers sell that information on the dark web. The end result is if your password at "Fluffy's Firearms" is the same one you use here, criminals now can access your account here and any other site you used the same password. One recent hack that probably has affected many users was the theft of information of Facebook accounts but many many others have happened, several of which we never hear about. Here is a partial list of places hacked:

CAM4 - 10.8 Billion records
Yahoo - 3 Billon accounts
First American Financial - 885 Million accounts
Linked In - 700 Million accounts
Facebook - 553 Million accounts
Marriot - 500 Million accounts
Adult Friend Finder - 412 Million accounts
myspace - 360 Million accounts
Twitter - 330 Million accounts
Experian - 200 Million accounts
Adobe - 152 Million accounts
Equifax - 148 Million accounts
Ebay - 145 Million accounts

These are just the bigger cases, hundreds of smaller breaches have taken place effecting billions of user accounts. The bottom line - UNLESS YOU ARE A HERMIT LIVING UNDER A ROCK, EVERY PERSON HAS HAD AN ACCOUNT HACKED SOMEWHERE.

There are many programs out there that generate lengthy random nonsensical passwords that are extremely difficult to hack and store them for you so you don't have to remember them. Additionally, since they generate a different password for each site, hackers only get your password for that particular site, which is useless for anywhere else you might frequent.

So take a minute TODAY and change your password here and other places you frequent!

 

[Roger Kipwell]

There are many programs out there that generate lengthy random nonsensical passwords that are extremely difficult to hack and store them for you so you don't have to remember them.

I don't know if that would help since I have a work computer, two home computers, two laptops, a smart TV, a tablet, and a phone.

 

[Tom S.]

I don't know if that would help since I have a work computer, two home computers, two laptops, a smart TV, a tablet, and a phone.

I cannot speak for all browsers, as I only use FireFox, but FireFox has the ability to sync between all your devices regardless of OS. I'm not sure about the smart TV however. I have to believe that if FF offers it, Edge, Chrome, etc., do as well.

My back up system is a simple Excel spread sheet that I store my passwords on and use copy/paste commands

 

[johngalt]

Brave (chrome based) will also sync across machines, but doesn't require a google login or include Google spyware.

 

[s&wchad]

Chrome and Safari will remember your usernames and passwords if you select that option. I use it for all but my financial accounts.

I'm old school and also keep an address book stashed in a secure location. It contains mailing addresses, usernames, passwords, phone numbers and email addresses. When I change a password, I update the book. If you ever have a PC or tablet bite the dust, you'll wish you had one too!

 

[chief38]

I do not use any Social Media sites like Twitter or FB. This particular Forum is about as "public" as I get. There have actually been threads I've written over the years that I have deleted before I even posted them because I realized there was too much information in them. Today, there is so much cyber crime it is very difficult to stay anonymous and under the scam radar.

Just another reason to not post full serial numbers of guns here or anywhere else. Some say it doesn't mater but in my mind, the less information you give thieves, scammers and dishonest people, the better off you are. Aside from which, if you're requesting a manufacturing date the last digit or two won't change anything for all intents and purposes.

I am sure we all get scam calls, scam email, scam letters in the mail etc. and we are forced to be aware, sharp and vigilant about what we post, sites we frequent, information volunteered, and must now look at situations very skeptically like never before. Even with all of that, some scams will be successful.

It is VERY important that you NEVER EVER use a password for more than one purpose. Yes, it's easier to remember that way however you are so vulnerable! Even doing everything in your power you will most likely still be compromised in one way or another but will be kept to a minimum.

We now live in a world that we can not hide and unfortunately, the cyber thieves and scammers stay one step ahead of the security measures. Post the bare amount of info actually needed and try to give out as little information as possible. Rethink your social media sites and if you absolutely must be on them - keep personal information to a bare minimum. Most important of all is to stay sharp!

 

[gjgalligan]

There are many programs out there that generate lengthy random nonsensical passwords that are extremely difficult to hack and store them for you so you don't have to remember them.


And can you guarantee that those programs can't be hacked or broken into???

 

[paplinker]

Chrome and Safari will remember your usernames and passwords if you select that option. I use it for all but my financial accounts.

I'm old school and also keep an address book stashed in a secure location. It contains mailing addresses, usernames, passwords, phone numbers and email addresses. When I change a password, I update the book. If you ever have a PC or tablet bite the dust, you'll wish you had one too!

I keep a notebook also. I am up to over 30 logins and passwords

Everything from EZ Pass to my Best Buy account. Seems too much sometimes

 

[Roger Kipwell]

I cannot speak for all browsers, as I only use FireFox, but FireFox has the ability to sync between all your devices regardless of OS.

I suppose that would work if I let the browser store passwords or if I trusted "cloud" based storage.