Happy Change Your Passwords Day
You’ve probably heard of the Heartbleed bug that is the biggest Internet infection ever. You need to change your passwords, and you need to change them now. Everywhere.
Mashable has create a handy list that states which passwords are definitely affected (Facebook, Pinterest, Gmail) and ones that are likely affected (Apple or eBay) as well as a few that are definitely not affected (Paypal and Walmart). CNet also has a list of which sites have fixed the problem (and therefore, it’s okay to change your password).
So take this as an opportunity to do a few things:
1. Change your passwords. Make a new, unique password for each site. Never use the same password in two places.
2. Write down your new passwords and put this list in a safe place to be used in the event that something happens to you.
3. Close down any accounts you opened but do not use.
4. Make sure to enter the new passwords into accounts on your mobile devices so everything works once you leave the house.
Consider this your public service announcement for the day.
11 comments
Thanks for this. I’ve been meaning to change and diversify and you just gave me a great reason to do it now 🙂
Ugh. What a pain. 🙁
Done and dusted.
Thank you!
Bah. Another thing to put on my list. Thx for posting this PSA though!
Ugh, but thanks.
As if this is going to happen on my phone! Ha!
Thank you! I’ve gone through and done this!
I’ve kept your post on a digital exit plan flagged in Feedly. Good thing I waited, because these two tasks now dovetail nicely.
But still, ugh.
Super helpful, Mel! Thank you!!!
Mostly done but oh dear lord if I give every site a different password I will never be able to log into anything again.