Stay Protected Online By Picking the Right Passwords

Did you know that over 90 percent of online passwords are referred to as "weak"? In other words, these passwords are so simple and relevant to the ones who choose them that they can easily be hacked into. In fact, this happens millions of times a year. Anyone who has gone through this can tell you, once it occurs, you've got a long road ahead of you trying to take ownership back of your private information.

While we can try our best to create the most difficult password known to man, so that no one can figure it out, the fact of the matter is that all passwords can be hacked into. That's because hackers have both the tools and skills to do so. However, when you have a strong password, opposed to a weak one, you're making this task that much harder for the hacker. When it takes too much time to crack your password, most hackers end up giving up.

It clearly benefits you to have a strong password, so here are some tips to keep in mind when creating one:

    Avoid using your last name at all costs, as well as a proper name or something on the order of "password123". These can all be hacked into in a matter of seconds. Instead, create one using a mix of upper-and lower-case letters, numbers and other special characters like #, $, and *. Besides this, you can also come up with a password by forming a sentence and then putting together the first letter of each word. This way, your password doesn't make sense to anyone but you. If you want to make it even more difficult to figure out, you can throw in some numbers between every letter.
    Another way to come up with a password that will stump hackers is by taking two completely unrelated words and putting them side by side with some kind of special characters in the middle. To take it to the next level, you can even capitalize some of the letters in your words.

Now that you know how to come up with a tricky password, here are some more things you should keep in mind:

    Length is super important: You want your password to be as long as possible, so make sure it is at least 8 characters. Typically, though, the safest passwords are around 15 characters.
    Switch up your passwords: It's so common to use the same passwords for all of your accounts on the internet but this can be dangerous. That's because once one of your accounts is hacked into, it's just a matter of time until the rest are.
    Think about it: As we mentioned earlier, general passwords like "password," "123456," and "abcde" are so easy to guess, especially for a hacker who does this for a living. That's why you shouldn't pick anything that pops in your head first. Use some thought and creativity before you settle on anything.
    Don't share it: You may want to write down your password, so you won't forget it, but don't. Your password should be kept private, because after all, it contains all of your most valuable information. Don't even tell your closest friends and family, in the case that you forget it. Instead, write down a code or reminder that will job your memory if you ever happen to go blank on your password.

Online security is so crucial for keeping all of your accounts protected from hackers. It seems like every day Americans are losing billions of dollars to hackers, so take the right precautions now to prevent this from happening to you.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8538584

The Best Way to Get the Word Out About an App

There's a lot that goes into developing an app that most people aren't aware of. Sure, your app needs to work well, aid numerous people and have zero flaws, but you also have to make sure you market it correctly. Just because you created an app and it's available online to purchase, doesn't mean it's going to be successful. Instead, you have to make sure that your targeted users get a hold of it. Similar to website owners who have to employ content marketing and SEO strategies, app designers have to use ASO, or "App Store Optimization" to get the word out about their baby. Take a look at some tips for doing this:
 
  1. Write out a detailed description that will get everyone's attention: The last thing you want is to have a short description that tells potential buyers absolutely nothing. Why would they want to spend money on something that they have no idea how to use? Typically, your description should be around 3 or 4 sentences long, telling the public the perks of this app, what it includes and why they can't live without it.
  2.  Make sure your release date is accurate: Your original release date is the day that you sent your app in to be considered for the App Store. Once it's accepted, it takes a few days to actually appear in the App Store. That's why when it eventually does show up in the App Store, you need to edit the release date. This way it gets onto the "New Apps" list, so more people can see it exists.
  3. Create some free versions: Of course, you want to make a profit, so you charge for your app. However, if you want to see your sales go up, you should come up with a free "lite" version of the app. This ends up letting potential buyers understand your app a little more and see how it works before making the decision to buy it.
  4. Send out press releases: To get the word out about your app, you should put together some kind of press release and send it out to all of the major press outlets in your field. That means searching for blogs and any other kind of publications that are relevant to your cause. In your press release, you should tell them a little bit about your app, inviting them to try it for free and then review it. Remember, any publicity is good publicity.
  5. Promote yourself on social media: In today's world, social media is key, so use it to get the word out about your app. Whether you use YouTube, Twitter or Facebook, this will help your app make its mark online, while connecting with your targeted users.
  6. Advertise your app: Like when you're trying to promote any product, advertising is crucial. Since everything is very digital today, it's best to do this online through relevant sites that you think your targeted users would go on.

The next time you create an app, remember it takes more work than just brainstorming it. You need to put an internet marketing plan into effect to make it a success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8538776

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