CC has been hacked before, and there have been highly targeted efforts to access my account using an automated password generator (scary, watching endless log-in attempts every day for over a week). In order to minimize security risks, all authors and contributors who have not posted in the past 4-6 months have been downgraded to subscriber level. Nothing personal, and I’m glad to restore access if you’re wanting to contribute, as long as you use a CC-specific and very strong password.
Which is also mandatory for all those that are currently active posters: Please make sure your password is unique to CC, and very strong. Thanks.
While I’m at it, if you’ve not contributed to CC before, our doors are always open to new contributors. Got something you want to add to the conversation here? Send me an email at curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com
Wow…. Scary indeed. How did know it was happening and what tools they were using (if it’s ok to ask)? Do you use commercially available AV software or something special?
I get an email every time anyone tries to reset their password. I got dozens; or hundreds even per day. What could I do? I changed my password several times. realistically, a software program is not likely to guess it. It would take millions or billions of tries.
Thanx for continuing to bring us good content .
I especially enjoy the longer reviews that have back stories .
-Nate
Update password to something I could never remember unless written down or in a password manager.
How about the engine number of your first car? Works for me! 🙂
I have always been fearful of storing passwords on the computer.. I guess if they’re gigasuperbazillion times encrypted it’s ok?
More encrypted than your sticky note.
I enjoy the fact that the user named “Compaq Deskpro” is commenting on a computer security post.
I personally use iCloud Keychain for my passwords, since I’m locked into the Apple ecosystem (I can’t do my job without a Mac and an iPhone.) But if you have an iPhone and Windows PC, or an Android phone and any laptop, 1Password was an excellent product; I used it for many years before transitioning to iCloud (if you’re in the Apple world, it has a level of slick integration that can’t be beat.)
In any case, I highly recommend using some sort of password manager. All of my passwords are stuff like abcdef-ghi123-zx4blz that are practically unguessable and uncrackable via brute force methods. I have one complex, but human-memorizable password that acts as the gatekeeper for the rest. (Don’t put that one on a sticky note.)
There are a number of sites where you can check to see if your email is included in a data breach (i.e. is compromised), here’s one of them: https://haveibeenpwned.com
Current macOS and iOS password managers indicate if any of your stored credentials are compromised; I presume other platforms have something similar.
This is a test; this is only a test. In the event of an actual post, I would have said something interesting, or at least tried anyhow….