Recent news that the China-originated attacks on human rights' activists targeted their GMail accounts have gotten many folks thinking about the security of GMail.
First, you should make sure that you have GMail set to use HTTPS connections. This is less essential if you always check email from within a secure network. Especially if you use public, unsecured wireless, you need to check this setting.
On March 10, 2010, Massachusetts' new data safety legislation will take effect. This law, known as 201CMR17, requires all organizations who manage data to have a pro-active plan for preventing identity theft and other problems due to insecure systems and practices.
Long time advocate for simple, everyday security consciousness, Adam Frost, has provided a good beginning point for planning at http://www.201cmr17.com/. His company, Computer Care and Learning, provides consulting support in creating compliance plans.
I’m back to using two computers regularly. My trusty laptop now frequently just sits on my desk. While traveling around, my shiny new, lightweight Ubuntu netbook (a Dell mini 12) connects to the Internet, has Open Office, Remote Desktop, and enough other stuff that I am fine. I’m not here to sing the virtues of Ubuntu; I want to talk about the challenges of having data on more than one computer.
Data security has been in the news again lately with new stories about stolen laptops (Anheuser Busch) and credit card break-ins. Its easy to slip into the mindset that nothing is safe so why bother. One point of vulnerability that has been on my mind lately is passwords.
