One of the most basic functions we do on the Internet is to log in to our programs, email and accounts at various Web sites. We usually do not give it much thought, until we have problems with the process. Then it can be very frustrating.
To avoid any potential headaches, here are a few guidelines and best practices to keep in mind when logging in and out of your programs and applications.
Do not copy and paste your passwords. The contents of your Clipboard (memory) can be seen by a hacker. Avoid similar letters and numbers in your passwords, such as zero (0) and the letter O, and the number one (1) and lower case L – (l). Sooner or later we all mix them up and are unable to log in to our favorite Web site.
Many passwords are case sEnsItiVe! Be careful when entering the information to ensure you use upper and lower case where appropriate. If your login fails, check that the Caps Lock key is not pressed (a light will usually come on when you press Caps Lock, in the upper or right part of your keyboard).
It is a good idea to make all your passwords entirely lower case; this way, you eliminate a potential problem. In any event, upper case is not permitted in some passwords.
You can use the Tab key to quickly jump from field to field, where you have to enter data. Just be sure you are in the correct field. Use the dropdown box for your ID if it is available.
To check this, click the ID or Username field twice, and see if a list of suggestions appears. If it does and the correct ID is listed, click it. This saves time and more importantly, avoids errors. It should not work for the password field.
After you enter your login info, click Submit, Login or press Enter, just once. Do not do anything else at all until you are logged in. Do not touch your mouse or move it.
If you repeatedly fail to log in, check the spelling of your ID and password very carefully, character by character. Try logging in a little later; the site might be busy, or down for maintenance.
A common error is to use valid login info, but for the wrong program. Check that you really are using the right ID and password. If you are not sure, use the “Recover Password” function in the program.
Be sure to log out properly when you are done. Do not simply close the window. In some email and other programs, your account will remain active even if you close the window. Someone else could sit down at your computer and get right back into your application or program with just a click or two.
Finally, if you have surfed the Net for a while, you have probably joined quite a number of programs and Web sites, and have many IDs and passwords. Keep track of them carefully. To minimize the spread of your personal data, cancel your account at sites and programs you no longer need or use.
Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here: = > http://MyPCSecuritySite.com
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