FOR YOUR OWN SAKE – and FOR YOUR CLIENTS SAKE.

Security is an issue I think all of us, from one time or another, take for granted.

I think Big Ben said it best:

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.

-Benjamin Franklin

While, thoust I am tempted, this is not going to turn into some political tirade. Ben’s quote came to mind, and his quote is in a different context altogether from the subject you’ve read in the headline

You Are Not Cheap. Feel Secure and more Prosperous, trade your passWORDS for passPHRASES.

This is a SIMPLE method to INCREASE your PERSONAL SECURITY instantly. Although, some people (consultants) would charge a hefty price for this advice; this INCREASE IN SECURITY only requires a decision and a swift action. Changing your ‘password’ to a phrase.

Here are some fun passphrases I’ve set in the past for clients.

(Yes, they’ve changed them now, in fact some of them may already have changed and returned back to mary777 or john123)

WeWishYouAmerry2009CHRISTMAS!!!!

Iburied6theHAMinyourfreakinBACKYARD

ERIC-youneedtoquitsmokingITSNOTGOODFORYOURHEALTH1985-2009

RockOUT9erwithyourCO*KOUT

Those are just examples of passphrases. They are MUCH MORE secure than ‘john123′ because they are alphanumeric (numberz and lettahz) use alternative characters. THEY ARE EASIER TO REMEMBER it’s a PHRASE NOT A SINGLE WORD.

CASE IN POINT:

Let’s say you had a friend who you cheated on a gambling debt. OK- maybe you weren’t cheating, you just needed more time to PAY.

You have social networking accounts like a Facebook, a LinkedIN, a Twitter, and maybe a GMail account.

You have a job where you should keep your image nice and professional, let’s say you sell Insurance. You need to AT LEAST portray a professional responsible image.

You are a bit lax and take for granted your ‘password’ or Personal Security. You have a wife named Joan. It is the year 2009. You were born in 1962. Your address is 123 Everany Street.

So you’re friend who you owe a gambling debt to is pissed off, he hasn’t heard from you in weeks. You owe him $750.

Your friend is a bit computer savvy, he even KNOWS a few people who know computers better than him. OK your friend doesn’t even know computers that well, but he’s got some wits doubled with common sense.

Your friend attempts to login your facebook. He tries first eric1962. Fail. eric2009. Fail. ericjoan2009 Access Granted.

Wow – he notices a lot of common acquaintances whom he could communicate with right now, and they would think it’s me!

He is pretty angry about the money so he writes on my Facebook wall.

Friends, Clients, Family: I have a problem right now, I have a gambling debt of $750 and a mortgage payment due tomorrow of $1800. Which one should I pay? Can anyone help me I will pay back soon! Thanks!

He then gets amped up, and decides to try my Gmail. Man I’ve got all my clients personal data in there stored in spreadsheets, confidential company info…

Longer more Nerve-wracking Story cut short.

BE A VIGILANTE AGAINST PASSWORD VULNERABILITY

USE PASSPHRASES.

We’re in a new information age. Information is instant and at anyone’s fingertips. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE THAT YOU PERSONALLY COULD MONITOR YOUR ACCOUNTS 24/7.

Yeah I can get my email anywhere. Yeah, I can give you a contract anywhere. Yeah, I can take your info anywhere.While this ‘Internet thing’ is really freakin’ convenient.

PLEASE REMAIN A VIGILANTE ABOUT THE new VULNERABILITY of your reputation.

Not only your reputation and information, but the new ability of the clumsy to turn others lifes into nightmares.

Turning the lives’ upside down of the same people you love and want to succeed. Your family, friends clients and acquaintances. Your network. Your Ecosystem.

Use Passphrases. Change them often. Use uppercase and lowercase. Use numbers and use symbols.

It’s really important.