How Safe is

[53flyingcloud]

Since we all use 'our computer' for many aspects of our personal life. I was checking into paying bills on line while traveling. I wanted to check the strength of my passwords and came across this website that, is just PERFECT for doing just that~!!!

Take a moment and, run your's thru it.

http://www.securitystats.com/tools/password.asp

DID YOU PASS??

Please post your results in the poll.

ciao

[Silvertwinkie]

Being an I.T. manager, I'll be glad to take this one.

Passwords are important. Obviously, you don't want an easy to guess pasword or one that includes you adress, phone, name, etc. A good password is a como of letters and numbers. If you can use a word that is not really a word (I know it sounds strange) with some numbers, even better.

The REAL issue is encryption on these sites. Most of the standard web browsers that are at the latest release versions have 128 bit encryption. This is key. Without it, you are asking for problems.

Although having the latest version of browser is important because it has the latest and greatest patches and encryption, you MUST also keep the operating system current. It's kind of like having a locked front door, but leaving the windows (no pun intended) open for people to get in. Keep the OS current.

Now there are some that will still be able to get your stuff, the only way to be 100% is to disconnect from the wall, but that's not something that is going to happen, let's face it. So make sure in addition to having a good password that you change regularly, that you keep all your software up to date and only visit trusted websites that also use the highest encryption that your latest version of browser can support and you should be better off.

Regards,

Eric

[53flyingcloud]

Eric,
Well said~!
Thanks for your valuable input and, insights as well..
ciao

[Silvertwinkie]

Regards,

Eric

[dmreilly10000]

"Passwords are like underwear. You should change them often and shouldn't share them with others."

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally posted by dmreilly10000
shouldn't share them with others.

I guess that depends on a few things. I wouldn't mind sharing my underwear with a few choice ladies out there!

Did I say that???

Eric

[53flyingcloud]

Eric,

Did I say that???

Sometimes, private thoughts should remain, "PRIVATE"~!!
Are you otay??~!~lol
ciao

[Silvertwinkie]

It's my multiple personalities. A different one got out and typed that, I had no knowledge that I even typed that.........



Eric

[53flyingcloud]

otay..
I understand...

[canny_banjo_man]

Hi Eric...
U mean 2 say U got a straying finger...I have the same trouble when I type...lol
Hope U doin jus fine ...Chris.....

[Silvertwinkie]

[53flyingcloud]

Just ran a bandwidth speed test on my provider...WOW
165.2 megabits per second

Run the test again Discuss in the forum
Details

Your raw speed was 165205333.33 bits per second which is the same as:

Communications

165.2 megabits per second
How communication devices are rated. Kilo means 1,000 and mega means 1,000,000. Examples include 56k modem and 10Mbit Ethernet

Storage

19.7 megabytes per second
The way data is measured on your hard drive and how file sharing and FTP programs measure transfer speeds. Kilo is 1,024 and mega is 1,048,576.

1MB file download

0.1 seconds
The time it would take you to download a 1 megabyte file at this speed.

Rating

Compared to all connection types worldwide, yours is fantastic
Comparisons

your speed +

T1

56k modem
this was an actual test result..Too bad it's not like this on a consistence basis.
OHWELL...

[Silvertwinkie]

Cloud,

Are you sure of the 165mbs? That is higher than most fortune 50 companies.

I have a very robust connection and I am at 1.64mbs per second.

Moreover, to get those kinds of speed you would either need to be working on an Internet backbone, a huge ISP, at a job that has lots of money and dedicates it to extremely high web connections, or you are independ weathy and have between 107 and 108 T-1 lines.

Who did you use to run the the test?

1mb=1024k

If your speeds are correct, you could host sites at a very premium price. You have megabytes of bandwidth to burn!

Eric

[femuse]

We have a password for money & business. Had it for 20 years.

For the rest, a 2nd single password. We have to make sure that Mike can keep track of them
He already had our ATM/VISA card cancelled by the bank once: they tought it was stolen,.... after he entered the wrong PIN # 3 times in a row !!!! [he did not like the way I used to remember it, his way was smarter .... he said ]

[53flyingcloud]

eric

Are you sure of the 165mbs? That is higher than most fortune 50 companies.
I have a very robust connection and I am at 1.64mbs per second.

Moreover, to get those kinds of speed you would either need to be working on an Internet backbone, a huge ISP, at a job that has lots of money and dedicates it to extremely high web connections, or you are independ weathy and have between 107 and 108 T-1 lines.
Who did you use to run the the test?

I ran the test this morning using:
Bandwidth speed test
Just copied and pasted the results.
I believe they had a major hic-up this morning..lol
I didn't believe it either but, it sure impressed me..
Just re-ran it at 522pm.
3.1 megabits per second
Run the test again Discuss in the forum
Details
Your raw speed was 3072634.84 bits per second which is the same as:
Communications
3.1 megabits per second
How communication devices are rated. Kilo means 1,000 and mega means 1,000,000. Examples include 56k modem and 10Mbit Ethernet
Storage
375.1 kilobytes per second
The way data is measured on your hard drive and how file sharing and FTP programs measure transfer speeds. Kilo is 1,024 and mega is 1,048,576.
1MB file download
2.7 seconds
The time it would take you to download a 1 megabyte file at this speed.
Rating
Compared to all connection types worldwide, yours is fantastic
This is abt my average result day in and out. Sometimes higher and, more often..lower

[Silvertwinkie]

That's pretty truley amazing speed!

1024 kilobytes = 1mb though

True 1000 is kilo and 1,000,000 is mega however once you place the kilobyte after 1000 that's 1000 kilobytes or 1000 thousand bytes which is now a megabyte.

1,048,576 kilobytes I believe would be a gigabyte since that is 1,048,576 thousand bytes.

There are 8 bits per byte.
So if you have 3072634.84 bits per second you need to divide that by 8 and you then divide that by 1024(1mb) which in fact you were getting 3.1mb per second which is still very incredible! The most I get is a bit over 1.54mbs.

I could be wrong, but on our networks 1024k =1mb

Here is another way to look at it....when you download files, you see 699kb, 79kb, 89kb, 999kb then it goes 1024kb which then you see it start 1.1mb, 1.2mb, 1.3mb. This is because after 999kilobytes you then get into megabytes.

Eric

[53flyingcloud]

eric

Here is a tip I picked up..It might not work for you but..

This tweak is for broad band cable connections on stand alone machines with WinXP professional version - might work on Home version also. It may also work with networked machines as well.

This tweak assumes that you have let WinXP create a connection on install for your cable modem/NIC combination and that your connection has tcp/ip - QoS - file and print sharing - and client for Microsoft networks , only, installed. It also assumes that WinXP will detect your NIC and has in-box drivers for it. If it doesn't do not try this.

In the "My Network Places" properties (right-click on the desktop icon and choose properties), highlight the connection
then at the menu bar choose "Advanced" then "Advanced Settings". Uncheck the two boxes in the lower half for the
bindings for File and Printer sharing and Client for MS networks. Click OK.

From the Windows XP CD in the support directory from the support cab, extract the file netcap.exe and place it in a
directory on your hard drive or even in the root of your C:\ drive.

Next, open up a command prompt window and change directories to where you put netcap.exe. then type "netcap/?".
It will list some commands that are available for netcap and a netmon driver will be installed. At the bottom you will
see your adapters. You should see two of them if using a 3Com card. One will be for LAN and the other will be for
WAN something or other.

Next type "netcap/Remove". This will remove the netmon driver.
Open up Control Panel->System->Dev Man and look at your network adapters. You should now see two of them and one will have a yellow ! on it. Right-click on the one without the yellow ! and choose uninstall. YES! You are uninstalling your network adapter, continue with the uninstall. Do not restart yet.

Check your connection properties to make sure that no connection exists. If you get a wizard just cancel out of it.
Now re-start the machine.

After re-start go to your connection properties again and you should have a new connection called "Local area connection 2". Highlight the connection, then at the menu bar choose "Advanced" then "Advanced Settings". Uncheck the two boxes in the lower half for the bindings for File and Printer sharing and Client for MS networks. Click OK.

Choose connection properties and uncheck the "QOS" box.
Re-start the machine.
After restart enjoy the increased responsiveness of IE, faster page loading, and a connection speed boost.

Why it works, it seems that windows XP, in its zeal to make sure every base is covered installs two separate versions of the NIC card. One you do not normally see in any properties. Remember the "netcap/?" command above showing two different adapters? The LAN one is the one you see. The invisible one loads everything down and its like your running two separate cards together, sharing a connection among two cards, this method breaks this "bond" and allows the NIC to run un-hindered.

ciao

[canny_banjo_man]

Say '53...& S/Twinkie....
What kind of language is that U both talkin, is it LOCAL slang or upper tosh slang ???, well thinkin abt it, if I can't understand it...it DON'T concern me...lol
There are 8 bits per byte...yep sounds like eating a FISH FINGER....( U did'nt kn fish had FINGERS...well they DO in England...)
Eric, if people call U strange, politely remind them that U r NOT strange, jus DIFFERENT, an when Yr doctor asks U "How did U find Yrself this morning"...U jus reply..." Oh I jus pulled bk the bed clothes...and there I were...)... he'll kn which one U mean...
'53, if U can follow this, U r a real smart COOKIE...lmao,
O K Guys, stay kewl...Chris.... .

[53flyingcloud]

The world is filled with much, much smarter folks..What counts is how it's used.
You have found a nich in making people "smile" at themselves..That takes a rare quality in a person..
ciao