[RE] From Locks to Passwords: Internet Security and Hacking

The advancement of technology is moving faster than it has ever moved before. And with that, the Internet had become popular in doing many tasks - from sending e-mails to paying bills. For that end, there has been an increased need for higher Internet security.

Many bank transactions can be done simply via one's smartphone and checks can be deposited with a picture of the check and a few clicks of a button. How secure is this process? Can the Internet be trusted with all this confidential information, such as credit card account numbers and bank transactions?

Companies suffer millions of dollars in information leaks due to hackers. Would you like it if your information possibly leaked out due to a company's lack of updated computer security measures? Most likely not...

The question now stands: What can you do on this side of the computer screen to prevent hacking of your personal information?

Steven Lee of period 06 writes the following:

(Bad hackers) might steal personal information and destroy important files. [...] [H]acking that was done was a few weeks ago on the Bart website. This time hackers posted peoples personal information like where they live and their phone numbers.

Unfortunately, in situations wherein companies lose this information due to hacking (such as the BART database system), the general public has no control. Your personal information rests in the hands of the company.

On this side, the computer users have the opportunity to prevent hacking by following several basic guidelines. Again, Steven suggests:

[D]on't click on links that are suspicious and change password every month or so and don't save your password on a public computer. Having good common sense can help you not get hack so easily.

Simple enough, right? Common sense

So what's preventing us from experiencing 100% safe internet protocol? Fact of the matter is that many people don't do most of the aforementioned. 

Let me ask you, when was the last time you changed your password? Have you been prone to "accidentally" clicking on an intriguing advertisement? Do you remember to log out of all the websites on public computers before closing the web browser?

I, personally, go out of my way to delete internet history on most public computers if I am unfamiliar with their security levels. Finally, avoid choosing certain pass codes:

• Birthdays
• Names
• 1234
• password
• qwerty
• Phone numbers
• etc

These are simple preventative measures to avoid hacking (which could potentially lead to identity theft). Leave nothing to chance. The Internet never forgets...