As more and more of life takes place online, we’re sharing an increasing amount of private information on the Internet... and getting a lot more comfortable about doing so. Therein lies the problem; as we become more lax, criminals become more adept at hacking information, such as credit card and bank accounts, and social security numbers.
Your first line of defense for protecting yourself on the Internet? A stalwart password. Here are some guidelines for creating and maintaining super-strong passwords.
- Never share your password with anyone. You may think it innocent enough to give your password to a close friend or family member, but once it’s out of your hands its safety is out of your control. You never know when it can accidentally land in the hands of the wrong person.
- Create complicated passwords, but one’s you can remember. Combine facts only you know, such as your childhood phone number, the name of your first crush or your confirmation name. Then take the first letter and/or digit of such facts and create a password that’s a mystery to others but one you’ll never forget.
- Use a mix of lower and upper case numbers, letters and symbols, choosing numbers and symbols that double for a letter, such as the @ sign for A, $ for S, and the number 1 for I. Mix these numbers and symbols to abbreviate a familiar phrase.
- Consider double authentication, like fingerprints or images.
- If it’s in the dictionary, don’t use it. There’s actually software that criminals can use to guess words used in dictionaries for passwords.
- Mix it up. While it’s tempting to only have to remember one password, don’t. Use different passwords for different sites—that way if one gets hacked, it won’t take down your entire online world.
Source: connectsafely.org
Don't Forget to Focus on Yourself Over the Holidays
There are so many things to love about the holiday season, but sometimes we forget that. We get caught up in coordinating events, stressing about hosting and trying to manage conflicts between family members. One thing that’s been proven to lessen this kind of stress is carving out “me time” on a regular basis. Here are a few ways you can do that:
Set your alarm
While waking up when it’s still dark and cold out is not everybody’s favourite chore, setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier can give you a chance to greet the day before the morning chaos has begun. Enjoy your coffee in peace and take this time to reflect.
Use your benefits
If you have the luxury of a workplace that provides benefits, check and see if they provide you with coverage for a certain amount of massage therapy. Since most people’s benefits expire at the end of the year, this is an ideal time for you to book a relaxing massage and have it covered.
Scrap the desk lunch
During a busy workday, it can seem like a better use of time to keep your workflow chugging along as you simultaneously scarf down a lunchtime sandwich or salad at your desk. The risk, of course, is that you end up exhausted at the end of the day. Make a pact with yourself, if only for the season, to take a full break for your lunch. Whether you use the time to go for a stroll or find a quiet nook, use the time to let your mind recharge. As a bonus, you’ll feel refreshed when it’s time to tackle your afternoon tasks.
The holidays are all about thankfulness and gratefulness, but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with taking some time for yourself. Your friends and family will notice the difference, and so will you.
The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home: Pasta Parmesan Soup
If there’s one thing Peggy Ferris really loves about any home, it’s the kitchen. Peggy is a firm believer that the heart of a home is the kitchen, because it’s where we make and share meals with with friends, family, and neighbors. Just go to any party, where is everyone gathered? The kitchen!
