As many of you are by now probably aware, LinkedIn was recently hacked, adding another notch in hackers’ belts globally.
The chances are extremely high that yours is among the more than 6 million LinkedIn passwords that were posted online by the Russian hacker who accomplished the feat.
In an effort to mitigate damages, LinkedIn, and a number of different online advocacy groups, have urged LinkedIn users to immediately changes their passwords.
If you haven’t yet, WTF are you waiting for?
But rather than simply use one of your standard passwords (birthday, wife’s name, favorite team, abcd1234, etc.) users are encouraged to utilize password protection and generation services like 1Password, which afford greater security than creating a password yourself.
Most folks use the same passwords over and over again, whenever they create a new online account.
If they don’t use the exact same password, they use some slight variation.
But the reality is that most people don’t really employ the type of password generation and variation strategy online, that would keep any of the sensitive data we routinely share online, particularly secure.
I’ve been using 1Password for a minute now, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it offered as a viable solution to LinkedIn’s present crisis.
If you’re unfamiliar with 1Password, it’s a service that allows you to store all of your online passwords and accounts in a secure environment.
It also generates unique complex passwords, that are difficult to crack.
But what I’ve found particularly appealing about 1Password, is the fact that it synchronizes between your devices, allowing you the flexibility to access all your accounts and associated passwords from the convenience of your desktop, mobile or tablet device.
I don’t count myself among those whose passwords were compromised, but if you weren’t like me and find yourself racking your brain for a unique password, I suggest you take 1Password for a spin.
And “No” I don’t work for 1Password, nor am I being paid to endorse them.
But if anyone from 1Password catches wind of this, feel free to break a brotha off!
Stephen Chukumba 