Technology

lifestyle Technology

PASSWORD PROTECTED

Bad password practice is more prevalent than you might think. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre carried out analysis of passwords leaked in data breaches, and found that more than 23 million users worldwide used ‘123456’ as a password.

So here’s some tips to make your online accounts even more secure: 1: Creating memorable passwords: A good way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words. But remember, don’t use words that can be guessed (like your pet’s name). You can include numbers and symbols if you need to. 2: Saving passwords in your browser: Saving your password in your browser means letting your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari or Edge) remember your password for you. This can help to make sure you don’t lose or forget your passwords. It can also protect you against some cyber-crime, such as fake websites.

It is safer than using weak passwords, or using the same password in more than one place. 3: Email account passwords: If a hacker gets into your email account, they could reset your other online

account passwords and have access to personal information you have saved about yourself or your business. Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess. For details see ncsc.gov.uk/ cyberaware We spoke to local website guru, Richard Wraith, from My Local IT Guy (mylocalitguy.uk). He said: “For passwords, I always recommend FireFox Lockwise for saving, managing and creating secure passwords. It’s also awesome for checking all of your email addresses to see if any have been exposed in any data breaches. See Firefox Monitor at https://monitor.firefox.com. Failing that, this website will let you create secure passwords with any complexities you want or don’t want: https:// passwordsgenerator.net. But, as already mentioned, a new trend is to use three random words. The app // what3words is great for this. Pick a favourite location and use those three words in a random order to create your password. To avoid any robots trying to cycle through every possible combo, throw a symbol in between the words and hey presto!"

New fat-burning device

As the popularity of low-carb keto diets continues to grow, AlcoDigital has launched a new fat-burning monitoring device to the UK market. Ketoscan Lite is a pocket-sized device that’s ideal for optimising diet plans and exercise programmes, including the keto diet. Users blow into the mouthpiece for two seconds, and within one minute an accurate result is recorded on the digital display. The device works by measuring the concentration of ketones (acetone) in exhaled breath, indicating the speed at which the body is burning fat. Ketoscan Lite retails at £99.95 and is available from www.ketoscanmini.co.uk

7 ONLINE SAFETY SHIFTS TO EXPECT IN 2022

Less than 30 years on since the mass adoption of the internet, legislation to clean it up and keep users safe has been a major priority for global governments, but not until now have we seen major shifts in the way we access the net. Andy Lulham, COO of VerifyMyAge, shares his views on the seven big trends internet users can expect to see in 2022 and beyond.

1. Teach ‘em young: Rishi Sunak’s 2021 autumn budget addressed the need for more skilled people in cybersecurity, announcing a major investment to get youngsters trained up in the subject to police the web.

Arguably, a lot of what’s needed is effective technology,

but to teach that technology you need real people who understand real people. It’s bums on seats. Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) are recruiting an additional 400 staff to extend their remit into online safety. This will only increase over the next 18 months with all the new online safety legislation in place. 2. Age against the machine: As a result of the new

online safety legislation, anyone who owns a publicly accessible internet-enabled business can’t get away with not knowing how old their users are anymore. A number of new laws introduced in the UK and Europe now meanthat websites, apps, games owners (aka Information Society Services) must establish the age of their users. The first of these new laws is the Audio-

Visual Media Services Directive which is being progressively introduced across Europe and was transposed into UK domestic law last year, just prior to

Brexit. This move is to protect children under the age of 18 from content that may harm their mental, physical, or moral development - a major focus here is video sites. 3. Access all ages - Tick, tick, tock: As a result of

the General Data Protection Regulations, which dictate that it is only possible to give your permission for your personal data to be processed if you are over the age of 16 (or as young as 13 in the UK), we’re going to see more ‘data processing’ permissions boxes and age verification pop-ups in 2022. What this means is that one website may offer varying levels of access to the user, dependent on their age or the permissions granted. 4. Set an example, or be the example: With threats

of fines to the tune of 4% of the perpetrating company’s worldwide turnover for the preceding financial year, the new legislations have set hares racing, making

‘compliance’ as much of a buzz word as ‘content’ has been for the last decade. Who will be the first company to fall foul and be made an example of? My guess is that it’ll be a major brand, or at least a division of one.

I also wouldn’t rule out it being a brand that, by being seen as giving it an eye-wateringly large rap on the knuckles, the Government could win votes, by acting a gainst it. 5. The end of online anonymity: This will be one of

the major debates in 2022 and beyond. There is already

a lively debate ahead of the parliamentary scrutiny of the Online Safety Bill about whether the law should go further and require identity verification before users can publish their views about the world, and other people in it, online. For many, this is a step too far, but for others, being able to identify an individual when they are online is a prerequisite for applying the rule of law, for example, when considering libellous comments or death threats. I know from our own technology solutions that online verification is simple to apply, but whether the world is ready is a whole different matter. 6. No more sweets at the checkout: 2022 will see

improved transparency on data use, especially for children. The analysis, often by complex algorithms based on very large data sets gathered from a whole range of our activities online, that is then used to target us with advertising for products we are likely to buy, is already the subject of multiple campaigns calling for it to be outlawed. 7. Ching, ching - steady hand on the tiller: 2022

will mark the biggest crackdown on online financial scams. Since the start of the pandemic consumers have relied more than ever before on the web and in the interest of the country operating effectively in the event of another lockdown, consumers need to feel safe to pay for items or make financial transactions online, without the fear of being scammed. Calls are already being made for the Online Safety Bill to be widened to address these financially crippling traps.

What are your views on technology trends for 2022 – and what do you think needs to happen? Write to us at hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

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