May your day be

free of technology tricks

and full of sweet treats!

7 Tips For Creating A Secure Password

You’ve got one for every site and every application you use – e-mail, online banking, social media sites, and your CRM system, just to name a few. With so many password protected sites to keep track of, the inclination is to always use the same password for every site or to make it so easy you can’t possibly forget it (like using Password123). Unfortunately, this compromises all of your data and makes it easy for cyber-attacks to steal sensitive, confidential information.

Studies have shown that password security is still the weakest link in keeping data safe. There are some simple things you can remember when creating a password that can help protect your information.

Here are 7 tips to consider:

1. Use special characters and numbers.

2. Mix up upper case and lower case letters.

3. Make sure your password is a minimum of 10 characters.

4. Be sure it’s not something that can be guessed easily (zip code, phone number, birthdate, your name).

5. Randomly replace letters with numbers, e.g. shake becomes $h@ke.

6. Pick a sentence or phrase, and reduce it to first letters of each word only, e.g. “A Golden Key Can Open Any Door” becomes AGKCOAD.

7. Reverse the spelling of a word, e.g. partnership becomes pihsrentrap.

Not all cyber-attacks can be avoided, but don’t make it too easy for them. Be proactive and update all of your passwords so they meet the above criteria.

Protect Your Kids Online For $29

Nearly 90% of 8-16 year olds have seen inappropriate images online. Most of them stumble upon it as a result of conducting research for their homework. With frightening numbers of pornography, child predators, and other harmful online risks, protecting your children’s activity is a MUST.

With the following four features, Net Nanny Parental Controls software by ConnectWatch ($29 at www.hermanstreet.com) helps you do just that.

1. Blocks “Mature” Games. The software scans the online game for its ERSB ratings (like movie ratings, but for computer games). If the game isn’t kid-friendly, the computer blocks it.

2. Filters Facebook. Net Nanny can provide parents with a report on who their kids’ “friends” are, what pictures and videos they are looking at, and their Facebook Instant Message conversations.

3. Prevents Proxy Sites From Working. Content filters work by making a “blacklist” of sites that it won’t allow. If you tried to type in a blacklisted website address, you wouldn’t get very far. But there’s a sneaky way around this called “Proxy Server.”

Proxy Server web addresses are usually content neutral, so users can go there without flagging the blacklist system. Once in, your child can navigate to their original blacklisted site. Net Nanny prevents this by blocking both proxy server entries and the inappropriate website itself.

4. Keeps Parents Informed. Whenever your child is trying to gain access to something you have blocked, Net Nanny sends an e-mail notification to the parents.

Lumberjack Or Gardener?

     When it comes to correcting employees, are you a lumberjack or are you a gardener?

      A lumberjack uses an axe to make broad sweeping strokes and chop down trees. On the other hand, a gardener makes cuts with an attitude of pruning, molding, shaping and helping things grow. Recently, I spoke with a client who was behaving like a lumberjack. (He gave me permission to share this story.) We were talking on the phone in a coaching call and he used phrases I’d never heard from him before, such as “I blasted that employee,” and “that was a stupid mistake.” He repeated these phrases over and over. As I helped him work through the issues, he realized the way he was behaving was not really congruent with his personal values. I gave him three tools to use when correcting employees – call them gardening tools:

     1. Never respond to a first instance. We all make mistakes and, most of the time, we all recognize when we make those mistakes. It’s no different with your employees. By giving them a little bit of space to make mistakes and correct themselves, you’ll empower them. Now, obviously, if the mistake causes blatant harm to the company, you’ll need to correct immediately. Yet for majority of mistakes that your employees make, you can back up and give them a little bit of room.

     2. Correct quickly with clarity. Many “lumberjack” leaders allow poor employee behavior to occur repeatedly and they keep their frustration bottled up. After weeks or even months of this self-restraint, they explode. Instead, when you see something that’s out of place, on the second instance, jump right in and correct. Do it with clarity, focusing on actions and results instead of personal opinions or emotions. In other words, describe what actions they did and what result they got from those actions. Then describe what different actions you want from the employee, and what different results will come from those actions.

     3. After correction, be supportive and caring. Sincerely tell the employee how important they are to you and to the company. Be as specific as possible. This will help them realize that you’re not the enemy. You’re their friend – a gardener. As a leader, you’re there to help them grow and improve not just for the company but for their personal career, too.

     Use these three simple “gardening” tools consistently, and over time your employees will begin to view you as a trusted mentor and a resource for their success.

 

Guest article provided by:

Dave Crenshaw is an author, speaker and CEO coach. He has appeared in TIME magazine, Forbes, SIRIUS XM Radio, and the BBC News. His first book, The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing It All” Gets Nothing Done, has been published in six languages and is a time management best seller. His latest book, Invaluable: The Secret To Becoming Irreplaceable, is also an organizational behavior and motivational bestseller. Dave has helped thousands of clients worldwide harness chaos, get focused, and build invaluable businesses. For videos and articles from Dave, visit www.DaveCrenshaw.com.