Safe And Strong Password Is Online Security Wall

Friends welcome to the new post of HkGoodKh.Friends, hope you are deriving benefits from valuable tips to keep the online activities secure. We put best efforts to teach you good online safety tips. Still, there is always scope for improvement. If you have any suggestions, do comment. 

Ok friends, so let's get started. If we ask one question - "which is 1 thing that can be termed as the gate to your online account? 1 thing that will surely give access to your private data. " Think! Think! Yes, you got it! It's a "password ". Login to Gmail, Twitter or Facebook. After entering the user-id, what do you submit before it lets you log in? Password!!! 

Just imagine, 'if you forget that 1 thing, can you log in?' No, not at all! This secret key is the shield between you and your private online data. 

But, what if the same password becomes shield between your online date and someone else. Yes, friends, we are talking about hackers gaining access to your data. 

Well, the consequences could be dangerous. And, if your payment account or bank account is at the receiving end, the results could be catastrophic for your hard earned money. 

But friends, since you are reading this post, rest be assured, you already have entered safety zone. HkGoodKh would provide you tips to create a strong password and secure it.

GO FOR LONG PASSWORD 

Yah! Experts recommend you should use a password that must have at least 12-14 characters. 

GO FOR A MIXTURE OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS

To make the password difficult to crack, use a mix of capital, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

GO FOR RANDOM CHARACTERS

Use characters that are not obvious. For instance, "password ", "admin", "123" are obvious. Never use obvious dictionary words as the password. These are the top targets in the hit-list of hackers.

GO FOR DIFFERENT PASSWORD ON YOUR DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS

This ensures the safety of your remaining accounts if the hacker somehow gets access to one of them.

GO FOR REGULAR CHANGE IN YOUR PASSWORD

An excellent tip recommended by experts for online security. So, do follow.

GO FOR A NEW PASSWORD EVERY TIME YOU WISH TO CHANGE IT

Yes, do not reuse the same password. It might be vulnerable to hackers.

GO FOR A GOOD PASSWORD MANAGER

This is an excellent all in one solution which takes care of everything mentioned above and best of all - requires no effort on your part. Here are the top reasons to choose one.

• Friends, this provides security to online password especially if you have accounts on a plethora of websites.
• You just have to remember the master password of the password manager. Rest assured, it automatically takes care of all your passwords.
• These use excellent encryption mechanism - the best security method and almost non-breachable.
• These have a user-friendly interface. These could automatically fill out your private information on sites, thus providing security from malware and phishing attack.
• These could easily create very strong passwords, almost impossible to crack. So if wish to change passwords, do not rely upon yourself. It would do the job on your part.
• These have both free and paid version and are compatible with all types of devices.
• These are available as apps and browser extensions for downloads.
• These excellent features make it a top password security tool. 
• So HkGoodKh recommends going for it. One more point HkGoodKh would like to make - though you use a password manager, do set up 2-factor authentication for all your accounts as well as a password manager.

That's it friends. We have provided top tips for creating and securing your online passwords. After all, your password is yours. It's none of others business.

A strong password secures online payment system plus all your accounts in one go.

Along with 2 Factor Authentication, a strong password acts as a robust deterrent against any malware attack.

So we hope, you would apply these tips and share with others.

Stay Safe While Installing Online Browser Extensions Or Addons

Hello friends, welcome again to the new post of HkGoodKh. Here, our commitment is to give good online content which could prove fruitful.

Friends, we do hope that you liked reading our previous post. In that, we told you about the threats associated with the browser extensions also known as "Add-ons". By reading, you must have comprehended the dangers.

In this post, we would go one step further. We would provide tips to protect against bad or rogue add-ons. We would enlist precautions you must follow before installing an extension. 

By following these online safety tips, you could thwart any attack of rogue extension.

So let's get going.

Enable 2 Factor Authentication

Yes - HkGoodKh believes this is the best security tip for any day. It is like a locker within the locker with the keys of the innermost locker with you. Even if a thief gets hold of your outer locker, he would be unable to steal your precious items. Reason being: all the items are in the innermost locker. And that key is with you.

The same logic applies in case of a bad add-on. Even if he has access to your password, 2 FA would prevent access to your account data. It acts as a deterrent.

Also, go for a strong password for your online account. Hope you got our point.

FAKE ADDON MAY SHOW SIGNS OF BEING FAKE

Friends, fake Adblock plus was very similar to the original. But still, it gave users signs that it was fake. The fake Adblock plus was called "AdBlock Plus". Note the capitalized 'B'. It is an error.

The only other difference was fake Adblock plus got classification under App category. To appear real, the fake one spammed keywords.

Also, it did a contrary job of opening ads.

So friends, if you suspect an add-on, closely observe it. 

Compare with the original. If it increases tabs or ads, do not think twice and just uninstall it. Your job is done. You are in the safe zone.

INSTALL LEAST EXTENSIONS AND IF YOU CAN DO AWAY WITHOUT THEM GO FOR IT

HkGoodKh highly recommends this tip to be on the safe side. Additionally, we suggest if an extension does not work as per expectation just uninstall it. This would surely minimize the risk.

ONLY GO FOR EXTENSIONS DEVELOPED BY TRUSTED COMPANY

Yup, that's the right thing to do. Like Google, they develop the official Gmail Notifier. And, you can always trust them to never sell it to just any company for the sake of a few thousand bucks.

GO ONLY FOR ADD-ONS WITH GOOD RATINGS

Definitely, addon with excellent ratings has something special in them to win user trust. So check them. Also avoid unrated, low rated and unsigned addons.

ALWAYS READ THE EXTENSION REVIEW

Yes, because reviews may indicate that the extension might be suspicious.

CHECK THE SOURCE OF ADDON

This is one of the best methods to check for third-party content. Do this before installing an extension. For this, you can utilize the power of "Chrome Extension Source Viewer". 

In the main toolbar, it would show a button. Just click it and the source code would be right in front of you. You can also download it as a zip file to analyze the addon locally. 

You can also use the filter by type option. For instance, choosing image would straight away display the code.

But friends, this works only if you can read the code. If you can't, unfortunately, you would not get any good out of this.

USE VIRTUAL KEYBOARD FOR ENTERING PERSONAL INFORMATION AND BANKING SITES

DISABLE AUTO UPDATE

Why! because even a good addon may become a malware if it auto updates.

DO READ THE PRIVACY POLICY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND FAQ SECTION OF EACH BROWSER EXTENSION BEFORE INSTALLATION

Well, who knows it might give you a clue whether to trust an addon. Addon with ambiguous policy terms and likewise might be untrusted.

TRY YOUR HANDS ONLY ON ADD-ONS HAVING LOT OF USERS

A lot of users often indicate that the product can be trusted. So, do check it.

TRY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE PERMISSIONS REQUIRED BY AN EXTENSION BEFORE INSTALLING.

Well, while you cannot always determine whether an addon requires the permissions it requests, it makes sense to check them. Especially, if an extension requests entire data on computer and websites.

DO NOT ENABLE ANY EXTENSION IN INCOGNITO WINDOW AND OPEN ALL SECURE LINKS AND BANK SITES IN INCOGNITO WINDOW

GO FOR SECURE BROWSER

HkGoodKh recommends using Firefox or Chrome. These have excellent security tools. The online store regularly checks the extensions to offer you the best experience.

ALWAYS CHECK THE COMPANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH ADDON

Yes, we emphasize this even if you reinstall the same extension. As in the case of Adblock Plus, the real website is adblockplus.org. Also, Google did not develop the fake version extension. If the user had checked the website before installing the fake extension, guess what! out of 10 times, he would have chosen NOT TO INSTALL it 9 times.

So friends, by now you must have got what it takes to stay secure while installing browser add-ons. Do apply these online safety tips. Your comments are eagerly awaited.

Threats Associated With Bad Online Browser Extensions Or Addons

Hello friends, welcome back to HkGoodKh. Hope, you must be eagerly waiting for this new post. As promised, we would 

teach you about the dangers of fake or bad extensions. After reading this, we are sure readers would think twice think twice before installing the addon. You would go for the good and trusted ones only! 

We would also discuss the fake version of Adblock plus, recently removed by Google from its store to protect the online security of the users.

So friends, let's get started! 

THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH FAKE OR BAD OR UNTRUSTED BROWSER EXTENSIONS

Friends, the fake Adblock plus discovered by Google opened new tabs in the browser. Also, it caused an increase in the number of browser ads. As per reports, users discussed this in the add-on review section. Just imagine how much it annoyed the users! Contrary to its name, the fake Adblock plus increased the number of ads.

Who would like to surf on a browser loaded with tabs and ads!?!? It must have crashed several times, after-all. 

Browsing must have become painfully slow.

Based on the above observation, we can safely conclude about the dangers of fake Adblock plus.

• Opens new and unwanted tabs
• Bombards web pages with advertisements
• Causes browser to crash frequently
• Browsing becomes extremely slow
• The browser becomes unresponsive or hangs a lot

Ok friends, by now you must have got a big clue what the likes of fake add-ons like Adblock plus can do.

But the threats are not limited to these alone. Let's see, what more harm it causes. 

• If a bad addon requests for complete data and activity, it can read the passwords. Thus, a bad addon is truly a malware which compromises your online safety.
• A bad addon with complete permission has full access to the response sent by the site. Thus, it knows all about your online details. Though, they claim to be just tiny.
• Even https cannot save you from the dangers of the bad addon with complete permission. Though they would not have access to cookies, if they can read passwords, it doesn't make much difference.
• Even pop-ups which do not have navigation bar are loaded with extensions. As users, you can test this.
• Add-ons also send the request and trap you to believe that webpage sends it. Like, if you are on Single Click Purchase site, you can get purchase requests from extensions. So beware!!! 
• Friends, bad and untrusted add-ons are privacy nightmare. They could access all your browsing history. They could track information about the sites you visit. Additionally, these also know about your current tab and the number of opened tabs.
• Add-ons could easily doctor Facebook, Gmail, and other social media messages. These can inject their own stuff into them. So, even your messages are not really yours.
• A notorious extension can also redirect your search to a suspicious site. Thus, you can probably become a victim of clever phishing and spamming leading to a privacy breach. 
• Even the popular addon could be sold to an untrusted company or hijacked. The sold or hijacked extension could get automatic updates resulting in a malware.

So, friends, HkGoodKh says - beware of all bad and fake extensions. We do hope by now you must have grasped what harm the cute and tiny looking programs can cause.

So, now a question may pop in your head " What as the responsible online user can I do to stay safe?"

Friends, do not worry. HkGoodKh would provide the solution for this. So, in our next post, you would find the answer to this query. We would teach you about the precaution tips.

We hope friends, you would like our post. Do share your views with us in the comments. Thanks for reading this  article!

Get To Know About Online Browser Extensions Or Addons For Safety

Hello friends, welcome to HkGoodKh. We strive to give you online content that is meaningful, useful and informative. Please, do provide us the feedback by filling the comment box. It would help us to know better about the improvement areas. 

Friends, cyber-criminals are looking for extremely cunning techniques to steal your data. Just a few months ago, we saw how a fake version of Adblock plus extension managed to deceive a large number of people by making way into chrome store. As per news reports, approximately 37000 people installed it in two weeks. Google did an excellent job to warn users and remove that from the chrome store to reduce further damage.

But the point HkGoodKh wants to make friends - why wait for the catastrophe? We online users have the first responsibility to take best precautions for online safety. 

We just need to be aware. 

And here you are at HkGoodKh for getting that awareness. So friends, in return today, we would make you aware of the browser add-ons. And in the later posts, of the dangers associated with fake and bad add-ons/extensions as well as safety tips to avoid falling victim to them. This would help you to be on the safe side.



So let's get started.

Friends, before going further we would like to give an idea about what the so-called extensions are!? How these tiny extensions can customize your browsing as per liking!? 

BROWSER EXTENSIONS OR ADDONS

Friends, browser extensions or add-ons are computer programs.



WHAT THEY DO

• These add to the functionality of the web browsers and make browsing a smooth and user-friendly experience. 
• These tiny programs change the web pages. Additionally, these tools integrate the browser with the different services you use. 
• Some add-ons also add the toolbar to the web browser. Thus, the user interface of browser gets changed. Yet, the view-able content remains unchanged.

FROM WHERE CAN YOU DOWNLOAD ADDONS

Friends, nearly all popular web browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera have their "online stores". You can download the extension of your choice. You find both free and paid ones. You can find the extensions by typing name in the search box. Popular or trending add-ons are also listed. You can also find the rating of each extension which makes your job easier.

Chrome Web Store: For chrome extensions
Mozilla's AddOn Site: For Firefox extensions.

EXAMPLES OF SOME POPULAR ADDONS

Well, online stores are filled with all types of extensions you can think. You name it and they have it. Below we have listed a few examples of good extensions

Adblock Plus: If you want faster web browsing experience without ads then this is an extension for you. But beware of the fake version.

Slot Worth: Very handy Chrome and Firefox extension to know cost and time wasted on idle browsing.

So friends, by now you must have a clear idea of what browser extensions are all about. We tried to give an in-
depth overview. Hope you like our article. In the next post, we would discuss the dangers of installing fake and bad add-ons. 

More Online Safety Ways

Hello friends, welcome back to HkGoodKh. Hope you like our articles. We try best to give user-friendly content to our readers. Please do comment by filling out the comment box below. Your feedback would motivate us to keep creating good articles. Friends, today we are going to discuss more methods to strengthen your online security against cyber-criminals.

Friends, in our previous article, we provided 5 ways by which you can create a shield against hackers. If you want to know more about them, you can read here.

As you know, hackers want your important information like login Id, password, personal details, credit card details, bank information and others by hook or crook. For this, they use sophisticated techniques such as installing malicious content on a user computer, sending spam messages, luring the user to click on phishing sites and many more.

If we ask - would you provide your sensitive information to anyone willingly? Definitely NO. Hackers also know this. So, they devise clever methods to trap the user in passing out their sensitive information to them. So, we have to be on our toes.

Friends, today we are going to discuss these clever techniques adopted by the hacker. 

Let's get started.

Phishing

You must have heard about this trap. Call it deceiving or cheating, the fact is it is an extremely clever and sophisticated technique. It is like a wolf wearing the mask of a sheep. The hacker makes extensive use of this to steal the private information of the user.

Let’s explain this with the help of an example. Suppose you receive a mail from a reputed site like Amazon.

• The mail says that the user has ordered an item from Amazon.
• It contains a billing address which do not belong to the user.
• Now, when the user hovers the mouse over the link displaying Amazon, he finds the actual URL to be different. You get the feeling of something suspicious. 

Right! Well, this is the classic example of a Phishing Site.

Of course, many users become perplexed by such emails. They cannot decide if it is real or not.

So, keep these tips in mind and you will be safe.

• The first thing you should do is NOT TO CLICK ANY LINKS contained in that mail.
• Secondly, MANUALLY ENTER THE SITE URL in the address box. So, in the above case, if the user wants to go to Amazon, he should type www.amazon.com into the address bar of the web browser.
• You should hover your mouse over the links. By doing this, you get information about the true URL of the link. 
• The next course of action is to immediately DELETE SUCH EMAILS. Also, do not forward such emails to others.

Friends, you cannot easily block or stop Phishing emails. So, the best security measure is to immediately identify and delete from your inbox when it arrives. 

Note friends, if you click on the link, it redirects to an untrusted phishing site. 

Then, you may be trapped to enter your login id or other private data. Thus, you might accidentally pass on all your secret information to the hackers.

Hope friends, from now onward, you would think twice before clicking on any link in the mail.

Spam

Over the years, this has also become a favorite tool for cyber-criminals to steal personal details of the users.

What exactly is spam? Well, it is a form of advertising related to commercial purposes. The sender does this to gain monetary benefits. If bulk recipients buy the advertised product, the spammer makes lots of money in a very short time. This only motivates the spammers. They would continue to send spams.

Spammers use publicly accessible sources to gain information about recipient address. They also make use of dictionaries as well as different software programs to gain an insight into an address. Spammers also use sophisticated ways to conceal the location of their spams to avoid law breaching.

Well friends, today more and more spammers are using virus-infected computers to send spams. These computers known as “ZOMBIES” or “DRONES”, are used to generate bulk spam messages. Zombies mask themselves such that the user thinks the messages to be coming from legal addresses.

Friends, let us discuss the consequences of spamming.

• Well, spammers have used spamming for forgery of various email services. By using different domain names and hiding location, they confuse the email administrator.
• The second consequence is - the real address or email account of the user may be hijacked. The user may get a false mail pretending to be from the trusted site such as “Hotmail”. It might state - the user account is closed and requires some action on part of the user to reopen it.

Now the question is what we can do on our part?

• First of all, we all must install a good “ ANTIVIRUS ”. This step avoids our computer from turning into “ZOMBIES”.
• Secondly, false emails should be either completely ignored or deleted because spammers often attach virus in them.
• Thirdly, every user must USE A STRONG PASSWORD which should contain a mix of characters, letters, and numbers.
• Fourthly, we tell you to set up 2 FACTOR AUTHENTICATION for all the accounts.

Do Not Use the Same Password For All Accounts

You heard it right. It is like using the same key for all your boxes. The hacker steals that single key and your valuables kept in all the boxes are gone. Feeling sad! 

So, to be secure, do not use the same password on all your accounts.

Do Not Share Your Login Information With Anyone

Friends, like it or not but to be on safe side never share your login information with anyone whether friend, girlfriend or relative.

Take Precaution While Installing Browser Extensions

Yes, friends, hackers are adept at creating fake versions of popular browser add-ons. Follow the best precautions while installing them.

Friends, in this article we have compiled 5 excellent methods to protect your online privacy. 

Hope you like it. If you want to know more on online security, read here. Tell us what you think about these tips. Do let us know by filling out the comment box. 

Tips Of Online Protection Against Hackers

Hello friends, welcome to HkGoodKh. Friends, today we would discuss some good methods for protection against online hackers. 

Friends, just imagine! The only companion is your laptop or the Smartphone which you love dearly. Online notifications from various social networking sites are coming. You are engrossed in reading and replying or maybe updating your status. Or, you may have opened your Gmail account and got a message - “Mr. ABC, you have received 100 dollars into your bank account for your freelance work."

You get immense satisfaction from such goodies. One thing, you are confident for sure - ONLY I know about these. 

You think you are the master of your updates, replies, shares and private information. Why? Because only you log in and log out of these sites. Great to think indeed!

But is it so? Are you confident nobody else knows about your account password, account information or important things? 

Are you confident that ONLY YOU have access to the private information? Do you get the feeling - “I am completely private, come on! I can share what I want."

But friends, the reality is contrary to our belief - it is harsh. In today’s online world anything is possible. You might not even know how, when and who may have hacked into your account and stole all the important information. From your account, it may become anybody’s account. So, it is better to be safe than sorry.

So, friends, we are going to talk about good methods to make you secure against hackers.

Uncheck Save Password Options From Your Browser

This is a mandatory step if you want to make sure that nobody else discovers your password or account information. 

Most browsers such as Chrome, Firefox etc provide an option to save your password. This option enables automatic login to your account. You do not need to enter the password. The browser fills out the field automatically. 

Many of us like this option. We prefer to check the 'save password' box. Feels good! But wait, somebody else now comes and opens the browser in your laptop or smartphone. By chance, he discovers your password from the browser settings. 

Now what? Can you confidently claim your account is completely safe? Obviously, your answer would be a big No. And, if you use a public computer, a greater threat looms on your account security. 

So, to be safe, do not save your password in the browser.

Uncheck Remember This Computer Or Device

Well, this option is also provided by many sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail. Suppose, you use device XYZ for logging into sites. And, at the bottom of your login page comes option - “Remember this device”. If you check the option box, next time you would not have to enter the password. 

By now, you must have understood the point. 

So, always uncheck this option. It is always safe to manually enter the password rather than simply relying on a machine to remember and submit it. If the hacker somehow gets hold of your device, your account is still fully protected.

Use 2 Factor Authentication to secure your account

Friends, this is an awesome security feature of all major social networking sites and Gmail. If the hacker somehow gets hold of your password as well, he would not be able to open your account. Sounds amazing! You must be thinking how?

Well, 2 Factor Authentication is a security layer apart from the password. Let’s say you have turned this ON from settings. So, it would ask you to verify your phone number for receiving OTP (one-time password). Once verified, you are all set and SECURE.

Now login to your account. Enter your username and password. Click on Login or Sign in. It would now ask for OTP which you receive on your verified phone number. After you submit it, you successfully log in to your account.

Well, the hacker then cannot do anything even if he has your password. Because only you know the OTP on your verified phone number.

Use Strong Password

Well, friends, we tell you to use a strong password. Passwords such as “Passwords” are very easy to guess for hackers. But passwords such as “ Pass12word#s ” are very hard to guess. 

These are very hard to crack and take a lot of time. So, always go for these passwords. We strongly recommend it. It is good for your online safety.

Regularly Change Your Password

It is also an important tip to keep your account safe. Experts recommend it. Good sites such as Gmail suggest this tip to users. So, be safe and change your password on regular basis.

Friends, we care about your online privacy and have listed these 5 good ways of protection from hackers. If you follow these tips, YOU WOULD BE YOUR ONLINE BOSS.

Tips Of Securely Doing Online Payment

Hi, friends welcome to our new post. We would teach you other good methods by which you can do your online payment safely. Friends, in the previous post, we learned many useful security tips such as using trusted sites, installation of antivirus, removal of card etc. So, you must be wondering - what is now left to cover!!! Still, I am not secure with previous tips! 

Oh, just wait and stop thinking too much! Our previous methods are best practices which would definitely give you 

peace of mind. But many of you must be definitely willing to learn more tricks. After all, extra knowledge never 

harms anyone. Knowledge only benefits us.

So, for those readers, we are going to list more tips. Such tips help you to pay using online gateway without worrying. 

CVV Number

Hey friends, we tell you not to save your card details at all in any payment gateway. Most of us prefer to save for instant payment next time. If you use a trusted payment gateway, for example Paytm, it would ask for your CVV number before the payment. It is the 3 digit card verification value present on the credit or debit card. If you use American Express Credit or Debit card, it will have 4 digits. You would find a white signature strip on the back of your debit card or credit card. CVV number is at the right side of that strip. We tell you not to reveal it. If you take your card outside, we tell you to memorize the number and erase it from the card by scratching. 

This precaution prevents the use of your card in a suspicious manner.

Delete History Of Your Browser:

Hey friends, this is an excellent step for prevention of card detail theft, especially if you use a public computer. Though, we suggest you not to use a public computer for payment by credit or debit card. But, if you have made this mistake, delete the browser history. This deletes the transaction details. 

• Find CLEAR RECENT HISTORY located on top of the browser. 
• Then, select EVERYTHING to clear. Check all the boxes which show the details of your history. 
• Then click CLEAR NOW. 
• You can also use the shortcut key 
• CTLR+SHIFT+DELETE for clearing history.

Use Virtual Keyboard For Filling Out Card Details

Again, this method protects from malware programmes which may be installed on the PC. The malware program captures the details, you input through the hardware keyboard. Virtual keyboard avoids this problem because most of the malware programs are not able to track it. Use it on your Personal Computer and Public Computer. After that, delete browser history by the above-mentioned method. 

Avoid Doing Payment On Public Computer

Friends, this is a good security practice. Do not trust Public computers. After all, these are not controlled by you. Who knows what type of software is installed on them? Maybe someone with malicious intent has installed Malware. The malware may capture all your logins and card details and send it to that person. So, try to avoid it at all costs. Instead, do payment from your own personal computer. Also, if you have a mobile, you can download the payment app and use it. This is more secure than relying on an untrusted public computer. Download app from trusted sites such as GOOGLE PLAY.

Do Not Use Open Wifi

Open Wifi leaves you vulnerable to hackers. They do not have the same protection level as trusted wifi. So, do not use it for payment either on your mobile or on your computer.

Friends, we hope that you would love this article. These tips would enable you to carry your online transaction through payment gateway in a secure manner. Also, by following these tips you can enjoy what revolutionary payment technology has to offer. If you love this post, please bookmark this in your browser or subscribe to our blog. So, 

the next time whenever we update the post, you do not miss out on any new information.