How to Manually Manage Your Passwords

Managing passwords is a daunting feat, even in this day and age of one-click password programs. And, especially in this day, where every site or service wants you to create an account with a user name and password. That is why I have used the following password maintenance plan for the last 20 years, and still believe it to be beneficial today.

Start by creating five tiers for password usage. Number 5 is the highest level and hardest, most secure password. Number 1 is the easiest to remember password that is used on the least secure situations. Never write any of these passwords down. The point is to make them easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.

Computer username and password, is your highest level security and should be a minimum of 8 to 15 alpha-numeric characters with some caps. Do not use real words in and of themselves, or numeric sequences. One way to make this password or any other password would be to open the dictionary or the phonebook and blindly pick a listing. You might come out with "lawnmower" either on page 944, or with 944 in phone number.

Now change characters in the word to something similar to "L4wNm0w3R944", or "L4wN944m0w3R".  I now have two different passwords that can be used in any of the top tiers of my security system. The first makes the second easier to remember and visa versa. (please note that this is only an example and you should create your own passwords). In order to make some passwords easier to remember, start with the highest level and then pare down to use for a less secure level.

Also, make up different usernames for each level of security. This will not only make it easier to remember the individual passwords, but makes it more difficult for a hacker to break into your accounts, since they will have to decrypt the user name and password.

5.   Highest level of security is reserved for your computer name and password. You and only you know this password and it is never written down or given to ANY other person. It could be one of the two passwords similar to the example above. It should be changed or twice a year or more frequently.

4.  Second highest level for use on Company business account and/or your email account. Never write this password down, or give it away. It should be changed once or twice a year.

3.  This is the password used to log into other hardware in your home, such as a router or a server. This password should be changed at least once a year. Levels three an four might be reversed for some users, as they may feel that the router is more important than email. This is up to the individual.

2. Third highest level is the password used for most social networking site(s). If you allow your browser to save passwords, then this password should be changed very frequently.

1.  Lowest level of security, should be a minimum of 6 to 8 alpha-numeric characters, and is nothing similar to any of the other security level passwords. This is your throw away password. This is the password used when registering on websites, etc, in which you may only need to log on once, in order to redeem some special discount, etc.

I also use a throw away user name and password below number 1. I have no worries about having this account compromised. I have a made up name and password that I use when I am unsure of a websites, authenticity and or spam policies. If I start getting unsolicited mail, etc. directed to this username, I know that one of those sites has given it out, and I throw it away and make up another.

Related Articles

• Tips For Avoiding Scams & Keeping Passwords Safe (parenting-success.com)
• Google Gives You Fewer Passwords (marketingpilgrim.com)

Save Money With CFL While Saving Your Eyesight

Compact fluorescent light bulbs can save energy and hence money from your pocketbook. The problem is that even the little buggers flicker and can bother your eyes. Now, there are Fluorescent Fixers.

These attractive covers can help prevent the fixtures from bothering your eyes and can be used on many different types of lamps. These little goodies were brought to my attention by Diana Lee, at Somebody Heal Me.

8 Ways To Reduce Eyestrain Caused By Computing

Wow, sorry for the interruption in these posts. My service provider went down and I am only now getting back online. I was without internet from Tuesday till Saturday afternoon. This has disrupted my life more than anything other than an electrical outage.

Eyestrain can be a big problem, when working on your computer for long periods of time. It is important for me, a migraine sufferer, to be careful and not cause any more problems than I already have. My light sensitivity means that I REALLY have to be careful.

Use the following recommendations to reduce eyestrain and eye fatigue:

• Close drapes/blinds to reduce glare.
• Adjust lighting to avoid glare on screen (light source should come at a 90 degree angle, with low watt lights rather than high).
• Avoid intense or uneven lighting in your field of vision.
• Place monitor at 90 degree angle to windows (where possible).
• Reduce overhead lighting (where possible).
• Use indirect or shielded lighting where possible.
• Walls should not be painted with a reflective finish.
• Use a glare screen or monitor shield to reduce glare from overhead lighting.

Many ergonomic problems associated with computing occur in the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. Continuous work on the computer can expose soft tissue in these areas to repetition, awkward postures, and forceful exertions, especially if the workstation is not set up properly. These can contribute or lead to chronic pain.

The following adjustments should be made to your computing area to help prevent the development of an ergonomic problems:

• First adjust your chair as mentioned before, then with your arms resting comfortably at your side, raise your forearms to form a 90 degree angle with your upper arms.
• Adjust keyboard height so your shoulders can relax and allow your upper arms to rest at your sides. An articulating keyboard tray is often necessary to accommodate the proper height and distance for each station user.
• You should position the keyboard directly in front of and close to you in order to avoid excessive reaching.
• Keep your forearms parallel to the floor (approximately 90 degree angle at elbow).
• Place your mouse adjacent to keyboard and at the same height as the keyboard. The back of the wrist should be kept flat (in a neutral position). Do not rest the hand on the mouse when your are not using it. Rest your hands in your lap when you are not keyboarding or using the mouse.
• Use a padded wrist rest to keep your wrist in a straight and neutral position while typing and keep your arms off the sharp edges of the work surface.
• Do not rest your wrists or hands on a palm or wrist rest when you are keying. These rests are designed to provide support only during breaks from keying.
• Adjust the slope of the keyboard so that it is flat, in order to keep your wrists straight, and not bent back while you are typing.
• Press the keys gently; do not bang them or hold them down for long periods. Keep your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers relaxed.

If your work surface is too high and not adjustable, adjust your chair to bring your arms to the proper position. If you raise your chair, make sure your feet are properly supported. These tips and the others provided in this blog series will help you prevent chronic pain due to computing.

5 Ways to Avoid Computing Pain From Your Desk

Avoiding neck, back, arm and wrist pain is important when spending time at your computer. Keeping a clean work environment is one of those things that can help your mood as well as your aches and pains. Many of us are guilty of building up a mess on our desk. Not having to work around objects, paper, books and other stuff makes it easier to prevent repetitive stress injuries.

I am probably as criminal as anyone for not following these simple rules for maintaining a positive work environment.

1. Your desktop should be organized so that frequently used objects are closer to you to avoid excessive extended reaching.
2. Use a headset or speaker phone to avoid neck and shoulder discomfort if you use a phone frequently throughout the day.
3. Place the phone on the side of your non-dominant hand (i.e., left side if right-handed, right side if left-handed)
4. Position your desk lamp (if you use one) so that it illuminates source documents without causing either glare on the computer screen or direct illumination to your eyes.
5. Use a document holder if you refer to documents while computing. The document holder should:

• Be stable and adjustable (height, position, distance, and angle of view).
• Support your document on either side of the monitor.
• Be at the same distance from your eyes as the display screen to avoid frequent changes of focus and you should be able you to look from one to the other without moving your neck or back.