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The one aspect of staying secure online is through the use of unique passwords for my different online accounts. Insecure passwords are by far the main reason many people have their online accounts hijacked or stolen. Unfortunately, remembering a unique password for every account is not really feasible for anyone. To solve the problem I have been using LastPass for over a year, and have found it to be a must-have tool for security.

After using it for that year I have decided to put together a list of the 10 top reasons that I like to use LastPass for managing my passwords. While there are many more reasons that I could list, these reasons have stuck out in my mind above everything else.

1. It is Secure

Saying LastPass is secure is rather an understatement to some degree. LastPass encrypts all your data on your local computer using your master password, which is never stored anywhere. This master password is what is used to access your secured, personal vault. Since all your data is encrypted locally using your master password, if you were to lose or forget that password, you won’t be able to gain access to all your data. The LastPass team can’t even decrypt your data without your master password, since they don’t even know your master password, nor can they retrieve that password.

2. Automatically Saves and Fills in Login Credentials

When you enter login credentials for a website, and that site hasn’t been added to your personal LastPass vault, LastPass will display a message asking you if you would like to add that site to your vault. If you accept, the website URL, user name, and password are automatically added to your vault. The next time you visit that same site, LastPass can automatically fill in both the user name and password fields for you.

3. Store Multiple Login Credentials for Any Website

In addition to the previous point, you may have multiple accounts for the same website. For example, you may have multiple Twitter or Facebook accounts. LastPass allows you to save multiple login credentials for any site. Once you enter a different set of login credentials to a site that is currently stored in your vault, LastPass will ask you to overwrite the current credentials or add a new login. When you visit the site later, you can choose which login credentials to use for the site.

4. Can Be Used on Multiple Devices/Platforms

I really haven’t seen too many applications that can be used across as many devices and platforms as LastPass. So far I have used LastPass on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (64-bit), and Ubuntu operating systems. In addition, LastPass has been installed within Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome. My Samsung Infuse 4G Android phone also has LastPass installed. I haven’t had a single issue with LastPass, and all my LastPass data was synced across all my devices without any issues.

5. Securely Stores More Than Just Passwords

This was an option I have just started to look at recently. While LastPass is known for storing passwords, you can also store other data in your secured vault. You can store such things a personal data, credit cards, banking information, and just plain notes-type data as securely as you store your data. IF you use your credit card for making purchases online, you can store that information in LastPass and have it automatically fill in your credit card information when you need it. Of course, you will need to feel comfortable with doing so.

6. One Time Passwords

One time passwords are passwords that you can create in LastPass than can be used only once. Why would you need one time passwords? These are useful when you would like to log into your LastPass account from a public computer, or a computer that you don’t trust. Since such computers could have keyloggers installed, you wouldn’t want to use your secret master password, as it could be stolen by the keylogger. Instead you would use a one time password to log into LastPass, to access your vault. IF a keylogger were to steal that one time password it couldn’t use it again, since the password will only log into LastPass one time.

7. Password Generator

LastPass includes a handy, easy-to-use, password generator for helping you generate a secure password. The generator includes options for length, number of characters, number of numeric digits, and number of symbols. Once you set the options it will generate a password for you. If the generator recognizes that you are on a page where you can create or change a password, it will automatically fill in the fields with the newly generated password. With this tool I have also seen which sites can accept secure passwords and which one have lax password security.

8. Open About Any Security Issues

I remember not too long after I start using LastPass that they saw some ‘suspicious activity’ on their network. Now people have talked about how LastPass experience a breach, but from what LastPass could see, no data was compromised – especially since all user data is encrypted. While it may be a little disconcerning to hear this, you need to remember that no system is completely secure. LastPass actively monitors their network, and reports any issues that they encounter to their user community. I am always impressed with companies that inform their users of any security-related issues, regardless of how large or small the issue seems. I haven’t heard of any issues since that time, nor have I experienced any issues myself.

9. Multifactor Authentication

Ah, just when I thought LastPass couldn’t be anymore secure, they have made it even harder for someone to get at my personal data. Multifactor authentication requires you to provide a second method of logging into your vault besides only using your master password. This means that after you enter your master password, you will be required to enter another piece of information, which really deters hackers from gaining access. LastPass supports many multifactor options, including:

• Google Authenticator (Free)
• Grid Multifactor Authentication (Free)
• Sesame Multifactor Authentication (Premium)
• Yubikey Multifactor Authentication (Premium)
• Fingerprint Authentication (Premium)
• Smart Card Authentication (Premium)

10. Dirt Cheap

If you read the above list of multifactor authentication options, you may notice that some had free and premium after the options. This relates to the account level of LastPass – free and premium. The free option allows you to use LastPass, for well, free. The premium account costs a massive (sarcasm) $1/month, and includes a few other features outlined on their account comparison page. Since I like LastPass, and wish to support their work, I have paid for the premium account.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are many other reasons why I like to use LastPass. If you are looking for a way to manage your passwords in a secure way then I highly recommend you sign up and use LastPass.

About Paul Salmon

Paul Salmon is the founder of Technically Easy. He is a an experienced PC user, and enjoys solving computer-related problems that he encounters on a regular basis.

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1. LastPass – The Ultimate in Password Protection
2. Keep Your Passwords Secure with LockNote
3. Creating Secure Passwords
4. Size Does Matter…at Least for Passwords

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A few weeks ago my wife mentioned that she was always getting “Recommended for You” popup ads displayed in her browser whenever she visited a web site. The popup was an ad that would appear in the lower-right corner of her browser window. At first I thought it was related to the site she was visiting until I saw the popup appear on multiple sites. I wasn’t quite sure what was happening so I decided to do a little research.

The Recommended For You Issue

After performing a few tests I determined that there was indeed a problem on her laptop. While visiting a site an ad, with an iPhone or simple rectangle background, would appear in the lower-right corner of the Web browser window. While the ads didn’t appear to impact the laptop, they became annoying after a while.

The ads would appear on many different websites using multiple browsers. She uses Internet Explorer on Windows 7, so I originally thought it was limited to that browser. I was wrong. I launched Google’s Chrome Web browser and noticed that the ads appeared within that Web browser as well.

Next, I logged in with my own separate account and started to noticed the popup ads appear in my browser window as well. After seeing this I determined that it was a system-wide issue, and not related to a specific Web browser or user account.

The Fix

I first started to look at the actual HTML source code of the pages that displayed the popup ads using a Firefox plugin called “Firebug.” This plugin allowed me to go right to the lines of HTML code that displayed the popup ads.

The code indicated that the Javascript file being executed was ga.js from google-analytics.com. This web site is owned by Google, and redirects you to the actual Google Analytics home page, so I was confused at why this file would caused the problem.

I then thought about what could be the root cause, and it would need to be on the local system. I then thought about the “hosts” file, which allows someone to point a domain to a specific IP address.

I opened the hosts file, located in “C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc”, into notepad to take a look at what was written in the file. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but then I scrolled down and found the problem. The hosts file on the laptop was as follows:

The line “(200 blank lines)” was exactly that – 200 blank lines that pushed the last 6 entries below the viewing area of the file. What the last lines do is point popular website metrics and ad sites to another IP address. This IP address would then use it’s own copy of common Javascript files to display the “Recommended for You” popup ads.

To solve the problem I deleted the last 6 entries, as well as the 200 blank lines, and then saved the new hosts file. Of course, on Windows 7 I needed to log in as an administrator and change the permissions to allow me to write to the file first.

Once the change was made, the “Recommended for You” popup ads no longer appear in the Web browser. Now I just need to figure out how that file was modified.

About Paul Salmon

Paul Salmon is the founder of Technically Easy. He is a an experienced PC user, and enjoys solving computer-related problems that he encounters on a regular basis.

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1. 5 Tools to Test Your Browser for Vulnerabilities
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3. Some Security & Privacy Extensions For The Chrome Browser
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With Google’s announcement introducing Google Drive, I have been thinking more about how I store my data. When it comes to storing data, it seems the cloud is becoming a more popular choice, especially for those that wish to share their files.

When I view the data storage options on the cloud I am always wondering how I can use such a service for saving all of my data files. I then came to realization that services such as Dropbox and Google Drive aren’t what I need when it comes to backing up my data. There are two ways to look at how you save your data.

Data Backup or Data Storage?

Many people, myself included, use multiple devices in their daily lives. They may use a laptop, desktop, tablet, or mobile phone on a regular basis. The one issue that arises with using multiple devices is the way in which data is shared.

With a cloud-based solution, data files would be stored online and can be access from any device that you would use. If the data files are changed, you would then upload the changed file, usually automatically through an application, back to the cloud.

In addition to sharing data between devices, many of the cloud-storage solutions also provide a way of sharing data between you and your peers. This allows others to read your data and even modify the files. This is a great solution for those that collaborate with groups of people.

While the above process may seem like data backup, I consider data backup to be an entirely different process. For me, data backup is a method of keep your data safe, and being able to restore your data when you lose the master copy.

The key here is that the data should be store safely, and securely. With many data storage options, that allow you or others to share and modify data, there really isn’t a lot of control of how the data can be changed. Anyone with access to the data can modify/delete/add files to the pool. With data backup, this process is restricted to protect the files.

Data backup is about preserving the data files, so that they can replace the certain files if the original files are lost. In order to maintain the integrity of the backup files, strict access control over who can access the files must be in place.

Also, for many data storage and sharing solutions, there is very little amount of data storage space available. This is because you may not be storing or sharing all your data files. With data backup, the storage needs would be greater as you will be backing up all your data files. Currently I am backing up 320 GB+ of data files. If I were to store some files for sharing, it would only be a subset of this data.

I consider data backup and data storage to be two separate actions. Both can utilize a cloud environment, but the purpose of both data storage and data backup is unique, and can be summed up as follows:

Data Storage

• Can be shared between devices and other users.
• Modified by multiple users.
• Only specific files may need to be stored.
• Storage requirements may not need to be high.

Data Backup

• Access to the data should be restricted.
• Data updates can only be done in a controlled environment.
• All files are stored so they can be protected from a loss.
• Storage requirements are high to backup all data files.
• Used for long term data storage.

About Paul Salmon

Paul Salmon is the founder of Technically Easy. He is a an experienced PC user, and enjoys solving computer-related problems that he encounters on a regular basis.

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1. What I Have Used for Data Backup
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3. What Data Files to Backup on Your Computer
4. Handy Backup – A Great Addition to My Backup Process

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It seems that with every time a new technology comes along, everyone needs to have it and traditional methods get sunned no matter how useful they still are. Although wireless networks are handy for a number of reasons, such as connecting phones and easy access anywhere, there are many advantages of network cabling, hence why schools and businesses still rely on it.

Not only is it good in these sectors but it can be of use for your home networks and connections too!

Image via Connect Data.

Should you Use Network Cabling at Home?

If you live in a rented abode or move home often it’s probably more hassle than it’s worth and wireless is the best option. If however, you own your house and plan on staying, then network cabling is worth doing as much as it was getting an arial plugged into your TV and electricity running through the house!

By no means is this a suggestion to replace a wireless network however. Most of us have smartphones that are unable to connect via cable, laptops that make movement/comfort unpractical with a cable connection and possibly want some kind of connection available to guests such as WiFi. What I’m suggesting is the two can sit side by side quite well in one household for dual purposes!

Why Network Cabling?

Security

Wireless networks are available for anyone in range to connect to and getting hacked is always a risk. I have a friend with a son at university who had issues with his wireless about a year ago. The student house he moved into had the same network from the previous owners, and somehow another house on the road knew the WEP key because there was constantly another 3 or 4 devices hooked up at any time! Although it was just students over the road using it for internet access (alas a free one courtesy of his son) and never did anything malicious, it could have been worse if the wrong people had said connection. No matter how secure your home is there is always a chance someone could break in, and the same goes for a wireless network.

Speed

Downloading, streaming, uploading, downloading, streaming, uploading, downloading, etc. The days of the internet being a browsing task are almost as old as dial up connections, and if the average internet user split up their time spent online it might look a lot like the aforementioned. Add to this home consoles strongly based around online connections and households having more than one computer and that’s a lot of internet usage! Wireless can struggle with bandwidth depending on position of the router, the access point, walls and various other factors. A wired network will deliver faster speeds with no signal drop out to anywhere you connect so long as your network is set up efficiently.

Do I Have to do it Myself?

No, of course not! Plenty of companies exist dedicated to network cabling, some for home and some for business. These people are experts and even if you do choose to go ahead and build a network yourself having one on side for help and advice is only going to be of benefit if something goes wrong, won’t work or a question you’re unsure of arises.

What to Consider When Building a Wired Network?

Most importantly, SAFETY!

Not just to be considered when installing the network, but after too. Electrical faults are a major factor in house fire causation so consider every scenario from wiring location to measures in place in the event of a fault.

Where do you want to connect the network?

What rooms are going to need a wireless connection? Do the kids use the internet and have computers in their rooms? Are you going to use a device as a main storage hub for media? Is there a chance a room may not need a connection now but may do in the future?

What do you want to connect to the network?

There’s no point in just assuming you need a connection by the TV without considering what exactly you require the connection(s) for. Most modern TVs and consoles come with a built in Media Centre as standard including streaming services, and you probably want anything that can connect to the internet abled for software updates at the very least.

Also bear in mind that just because you own 2 consoles and a TV that need the internet now it doesn’t mean 3 connections is enough. Wires can fail or become worn over time and constantly moving gadget trends could mean the need for extra connection ports in the future. Three or more extra ports are always for the best.

Layout

Are you going to be tearing walls apart, running wires under the floorboards or along the floor itself hidden by cable tidiers to create your cabled network? Either way a plan of your electricity sources and house layout is essential.

The initial costs of building a cabled network can be quite pricey, so planning what length cables you need can save extra expense and waste. If building your network into a permanent position (EG. inside plaster walls) the above point of considering what rooms you’re connecting and how many ports you need if vital to prevent having to rip all your hard work out for changes later down the line.

Also remember for copper cabling 100 metres (300 feet) is the rough maximum distance for gigabyte internet speeds. Bear this in mind and try to keep cables as straight and short as possible (obviously apply some common sense for movable slack) for best connection results. 300 metres should be more than enough for the average household, although if you are lucky enough to own an estate or mansion it might be worth considering two or more separate networks!

Wireless vs. Cables is an on-going argument discussed on many forums. Some swear that wireless is just as good a connection as cabling if not better and vice versa. My opinion is that many factors can effect internet connections, some obvious and some unsolvable, that the answer is simply; which one will work best for YOU?

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1. Setting Up a Home Network
2. 6 Tips to Secure Your Wireless Ethernet Network
3. Why You Should Secure Your Wireless Network
4. Securing a Wireless Network

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As a computer user…yes you most certainly should.

If you have any information on your computer that you don’t want criminals to get hold of, or if you access something like internet banking from your system, then you need to do something to prevent becoming a victim of a Trojan attack.

How do you get one?

Most Trojans, like the one making normally fearless Apple Mac users quake in their boots, are delivered to your computer via a malicious website, P2P file transfer or email attachment.

You can be surfing along, minding your own business, when you land on a webpage that automatically starts downloading something to your computer in a way that you don’t notice, and boom, the Trojan is delivered.

What does it do?

Like the famous wooden horse that Brad Pitt hid inside in Troy, the Trojan hides inside the malicious website or email and when you innocently invite it onto your computer it springs out (sometimes a while later when you’ve gone to bed) and starts hunting through your hard drive looking for personal or financial information that it can then send back to its evil creator.

The sneaky thing is that it poses as a legitimate program, file or document, so it can be really tough for you to spot.

There are several different types of Trojan too, though they are all quite similar:

• Key Logging Trojan. Records the keys you type on certain websites i.e. gets your passwords.
• Remote Access Trojan. Gives the scoundrels administrative control and lets them use your system to send out more Trojans; establishing a botnet.
• Back Door Trojan. Leaves your system open so the attacker can get in and out at will.
• Internet Relay Chat Trojan. Attackers can send commands to your computer via an IRC server.

Unlike a ‘Virus’ which aims to mess with and/destroy your files and system, Trojan’s main goal is to creep about and steal information to mess with you personally. Nasty!

What can you do about it?

In the case of the Trojan infecting Macs at the moment, a security patch has been issued that upgrades your computer so that it can either identify and remove the Trojan already on the computer or it can shore up your defenses so that the gap in the security wall is closed up.

If you are just generally afraid of getting one in the future you can invest in one of the many types of anti-virus software out there, or call up IT support and ask them to test and secure your computer. Aside from that you just need to be really careful about going to websites that you don’t trust and downloading email attachments from people you don’t know.

See larger image Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 Value M2 3Pc/2 Years (CD-ROM) List Price: $69.95 USD New From: $19.95 In Stock Used from: $5.99 In Stock Release date August 22, 2011.

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