Life Hackery

This week is Consumer Protection Week. Even if you usually take the necessary precautions to protect your information, it’s easy to let your guard down and allow a password or a PIN to become compromised. With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to review the most effective consumer protection tips (and maybe pick up a few new ones) to keep them in the front of your mind.

If you’re using a public computer or borrowing someone else’s computer, keylogging is a very real security risk. Keylogging software allows the installer to see every keystroke entered, allowing them easy access to any passwords that you enter for email, online banking, or any other password-protected sites you visit. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to spot keylogging software, so your best bet is to assume that the computer you’re working on is not secure. Using this simple trick from Carnegie Mellon University will help to keep your passwords out of the hands of malicious thieves.

Even using your own computer, you have to be aware of the threats present, especially where Wi-Fi networks are concerned. Wi-Fi is a great way to share information and make your life easier, but it can also cause you a lot of grief if you aren’t careful. Learn how to protect yourself and your data, even over a Wi-Fi connection.

Even though email is such a huge part of our modern lives, many of us still don’t understand that email is not secure. According to The College of New Jersey, email is like “sending a postcard written in pencil. As the card is delivered it makes numerous stops and can be altered or read by various people.” Never use email to send personal information that you don’t want to be readily available to everyone.

LifeLockBlog brings you some of the most common causes of identity theft and some simple ways to avoid it. These tips, like making sure your credit card statement is accurate and shredding bank statements before recycling them, might seem like common sense. However, identity thieves will often use the easiest method possible to get your information - and you might be surprised how many consumers still fail to take these basic steps to protect themselves.

Then again, remember that even the people who claim to want to help you may just be out to liberate your hard-earned money from your wallet. Consumer protection services, credit monitoring services, and credit card fraud insurance plans all give you something that you should probably be getting for free: protection from identity theft. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars a year on credit protection, try writing to your congress person and asking them to pass legislation that will allow you more control over your personal information.

YouTube is great. Embedding YouTube videos on your blog or website is great. But … what if you want to download them entirely? Sure, this isn’t necessary most of the time but it could be handy in some cases if you’re heading somewhere in the world without ready internet access.

Google has far more powerful search tools than most people employ. The search box on the simple white background is a deceptively simple front to a complex array of possibilities the average user never realizes are there. Here are just a few to get you started exploring its potential.

MySpace is kind of love or hate. Some of us don’t mind it being blocked from work, school or wherever. Some people just have to see the latest video, news or information posted in their network. You the latter kind? Use this video tutorial to unblock MySpace and enjoy!