This one really is a big deal. Not the discovery of this Internet vulnerability. It's the media-induced hysteria-driven response. You can run around with your fire hat on, making sounds like a fire engine, but the bottom line is it's a reaction to a problem that's been out in the wild for some time now.
If your response is nothing more that a flurry of replacing all your passwords with even easier ones, please stop right there. Step away from the media hype machine and take a deep breath. Good, let's ponder our options.
Maybe, just maybe this is the digital earthquake that gets the human race to realize that not only do we have the ability to protect our personal digital security, we have the responsibility.
The true is this. Not only did this happen, it's going to happen again. Below are some tips you can use right now to keep your heart out of your throat then next time something like Heartbleed appears.
Before we start let me say, if your password update strategy includes paper and pencil or breaking out a fresh pad of yellow stickies, please stop, find the box your computer came in and ship it back. You don't need a computer.
Assess the Risk
If you don't have all your passwords collected in one secure location, do it now. Include all your devices, especially mobile. Put on your cyber criminal hat to figure out where you are at risk.Use Good Tools
I don't care if you use a digital password vault or just a password protected worksheet or document, write them down. Until you do, the passwords you create will be too simple, too scattered and too old. Make it easy to update. Changing your password on a regular basis is the single most important thing you can do to protect against the next attack.Develop a Strategy
Strong passwords, stored securely, updated frequently. Sounds easy doesn't it? It is.Work Your Plan
Don't let your guard down once the pain of urgent dissipates. Create a recurring calendar event to remind you to update your passwords on a regular basis.The Bottom Line?
Your bottom line is the first to take a hit. I know you're busy. Vigilence takes time and costs money. So does going out of business. You have the ability, take responsibility.Insight
There are only three kinds of people in this world, those that make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. When it comes to personal digital security, where do you stand?Resources
- Microsoft Strong Passwords
- Kyplex Snapshot
- Carbonite - real-time backup/recovery of your priceless files
- SplashID – Password Vault
- Dropbox – Location/device independent file storage and access