Article One

Usernames and Passwords – What Not To Do When Using Them To Open Web Accounts

The demands for usernames and passwords when registering or logging in to websites is quickly increasing as more and more businesses turn to the internet. Having many online accounts creates the following temptations that you should not give in to:

• Do not use the same sequence for all your usernames and passwords, as tempting as that may be. If this security-sensitive information were to end up in the wrong hands, it can cost you dearly. It is best to think up a different string of characters for each new web account.
• Do not use a password with all numbers or letters-mix them up.
• Do not use personal information, such as names, birth dates, etc., that is easy to find out about you by automated hacker programs or by someone who you think you can trust or has access to this information about you.
• Do not record usernames and passwords on your cell phone. People lose their cell phones pretty regularly. Think what a disaster this would be with all this data stored in it. People also purchase new phones because of features their old phone doesn't have or because the old one breaks down or gets damaged. Either way, they have to re-enter all this information. It is tedious and time consuming to text such sequences accurately into a cell phone.
• Do not record your usernames and passwords in your computer, including your email address book. Storing this information on one’s computer is not recommended by major software companies. Microsoft’s guidelines for password usage states: “Avoid using online storage. If malicious users find these passwords stored online or on a networked computer, they have access to all your information.” (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx).

The obvious solution is to write down all your various usernames and passwords in some type of notebook. It’s a good idea to have them written down even if you insist on storing them somewhere on our computer. There may be some risk involved in writing down this information, but the risk is minimal and less likely to occur than storing this data on your computer. I found keeping track of all my log-in data in a notebook was somewhat of a hassle too because I had to rewrite the words usernames, passwords, company name, etc. every time I opened a new web account. Even with using abbreviations it was time consuming. That is why I designed a handy book that alphabetically organizes all usernames, passwords and associated log-in data.

Article Two

 Identity Theft by Stealing Your Password – Your Passwords May Become Your Passport to Hell

I always believed in keeping my life simple, so it was natural for me to take the simple way to do all my online business. Whenever I opened a new account online, I always used the same password. I did not want to have to remember different passwords for different accounts, nor keep them stored somewhere and have to look them up when needed. This made doing business simple, but unbeknownst to me, it also made me a sitting duck for identity theft. I’m thankful that I wised up before I became a victim. I’m sure you have heard or read stories of actual victims and what they went through trying to get their life back on track. Identity theft will put the victim’s life in such a state of chaos, frustration and anxiety that it can also cost the victim their health. Their life becomes a living hell. There are many things we can do to help prevent becoming a victim of identity theft, but for now I want to focus on the use of passwords. Here are some tips to consider about passwords whenever you open a new web account:

• Do not use the same password for all your online accounts. If one of your accounts is compromised—chances are all your accounts will be compromised.
• Do not use sequences like 1234 or adjacent keys on the keyboard like asdf.
• Do not use personal information or that of your loved ones such as names or special dates. 
• Use a string of characters that are mixed with letters numbers and symbols and make it longer than 8 characters. The symbols should be ones from other places on the keyboard, not just from the top row as they are more commonly used.
• Better yet, use a phrase with spaces in between, if the system you are using allows it.
• Keep a hard copy record of all your passwords. Storing them online is dangerous, as it is possible for an automated hacker program to find these passwords. Also, if your computer crashes and your only record of your passwords is in your computer, you will have to go through a great deal of hassle before you can access your accounts again.

So, you can see that it is very important to take the security of your passwords seriously. If you don’t take the necessary precautions I outlined above, passwords may become your passport to hell.

Since I like to keep my life simple, having different passwords for all my various web accounts was really beginning to frustrate me. I decided I had to find a way to keep an organized record of my passwords and all the other associated data required to open and maintain web accounts. I was using a spiral notebook with alphabetical tabs, but even that was time-consuming because I had to rewrite the categories every time I recorded a new set of web account data, even with using abbreviations. I finally decided to design a book that very much resembles an address book.

Press Release 

                      
Asheville, NC – (Release Date March 29, 2008)                                 Carol van Krieken:  1-877-  204-0966            
For further information contact:
Carol van Krieken, Tel: 828-505-2758


Here at last: The brand-new practical book   USERNAMES & PASSWORDS AT HAND
Organize Your Usernames and Passwords through a Handy Login Book

For those who do business on the net, web connections requiring log-in security information are not uncommon. Therefore people opt to have only one username and password for their different online accounts. If this password is found out, the private accounts will no longer be secure. To avoid this breach of security, it is best to have different usernames and passwords for all accounts. But keeping track of them all is difficult. Usernames & Passwords at Hand can help you organize this information and have it readily available for you anytime you need it.

About the Book

Usernames & Passwords at Hand is a login entry book that logically organizes and keeps membership login data in alphabetical order for all your web connections. Each alphabetical section has its own four-paged, lined note section so the book can also be used for other indexed notations. It will save time and prevent inconvenience and hassle in recording and looking up usernames and passwords.

Usernames & Passwords At Hand is a neat way to keep track of your different usernames and      passwords and related data for your various security-sensitive web connections.

Keeping this information in a cell phone requires too much time and trouble as most keys require multiple hits and also cell phones are prone to loss. If you keep username and password information in a notebook, then you have to write out the words “Username”, “Password” and all associated data categories each time you record a new set of information. This also requires the purchase of an alphabetically arranged notebook.

The perfect solution is to just get Usernames & Passwords at Hand.
Save yourself the hassle, get your copy today.

 
About the Author

Carol van Krieken was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She lives in North Carolina with her husband of 25 years. She owned a business for several years and another with her husband. She worked in the banking industry for many years prior to becoming a real estate agent in northern California. She also holds credentials in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She says her practical side is always seeking solutions to the little frustrations she encounters in daily living. That is how she came to design the book Usernames and Passwords at Hand.