PM's Self Reliance Tools: The Internet Security Model is Broken

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

www.poormansurvivor.net

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

The Internet Security Model is Broken-Protecting Your Information

This morning, I used Firefox Monitor.

It’s a tool anyone can (and should) use to see if their email address is associated with any data breaches.

Turns out, mine has.

Not just one… FOUR.

These four websites had data breaches and my information was involved:

1] Ticketfly.com
2] Bitcoin Talk
3] LinkedIn
4] Adobe

[Want to see if your data’s been hacked? Enter your email address at this website.]

This is Unsustainable.

The Internet’s security model is broken.

Every week we hear of a new data breach from some large corporation, spreading sensitive information all over the web.

The problem is systemic.

The current centralized architecture requires the Internet to be vulnerable to massive attacks.

All we can do is wait for a breach, then plug up the hole.

(I’ll show you the best way to protect your private info. in a moment.)

“Cryptocosm” – coming

With our digital lives continuing to creep, bit by bit, into our physical existences…

It’s more important than ever to understand how to keep yourself safe.

Rule #1: Don’t Panic

If your data has been breached, yes, you should change your password.

But just because your password’s been breached…

Doesn’t mean YOUR password is spread eagle out on the Internet.

Confused? I’ll explain.

Let’s talk about how your data is currently stored…

Currently, when you register an account on any site, you must create a username and a password.

When you create a password, fortunately, it isn’t stored as raw data in the company’s database.

Rather, the password is run through a process called “hashing.”

In short, hashing takes raw data through an algorithm, which then spits out gibberish.

So, for example, this password: WitchD0ct0rB0neZ262293

Might look something like this: Se3C25BvmEIF6SqOzQ4Ud20DX

These random numbers and letters couldn’t possibly be traced back to the original password without knowing the algorithm… which is how your password stays safe.

When you go to log in, the algorithm creates the hash (random bits) and compares it to what it has stored in its database.

Therefore, your password is never stored.

Hackers only see the hash.

This acts as an extra layer of protection… (but it in no way means you should use the same password for all your websites.)

Yes, they can crack your password with this hash.

But the longer your password is, the harder it will be to crack.

If your password is, say, 100 characters, it’ll take them decades to crack it with current average data speeds.

TRY THIS:

There’s nothing groundbreaking about this suggestion, but if you’re not already doing it… it’s time.

Use a Password Manager like LastPass.

All Password Managers have a random password generator that’ll allow you to create secure passwords.

Make them as long as possible. (You won’t have to remember them.)

All you’ll have to remember is your LastPass password.

And here’s the trick:

Pick something long and something you’ll remember.

1] Think of a quote you love from a (relatively obscure) favorite book. Use the whole sentence, but replace every “O” with an “@” and every “i” with a “1” (Or some variation of that.)

EXAMPLE:

"In our village, folks say God crumbles up the old moon into stars."
—Alexander Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

PASSWORD:

1n@urV1llageF@lksSayG@dCrumblesUpThe@ldM@@n1nt@Stars

2] Use an affirmation. Since, you’re going to be typing in your password often, reiterate your ideal. Say you’re starting to take the gym seriously.

EXAMPLE:

Every day in every way I am getting stronger.

EveryD@y1nEveryW@y1@mGettingStronger

Stupid. Cumbersome. And Dead.

Keeping your information secure is cumbersome.

But it’s worth it.

And with this method, you’ll only have to remember a sentence.

Fortunately, we just have to ride it out until the new paradigm comes to life…

Target had a much publicized system outage on Saturday at its brick-and-mortar stores, leading to long lines at cash registers. Adding to its woes, Target was unable to process card payments at some of its stores on Sunday, attributed to its third-party payments processor. Some customers actually had to pay cash for their purchases (gasp!)

Freedom Self-Reliance Action

Yours for smarter living,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

USEFUL RESOURCE

I decided awhile back that to preserve the most important how-tos that I may need to reference, I will create double-sided tutorials, print a few of each and laminate them. I keep each set in binders – one in each car, one in my bug-out bag, one in the safe and one in my outdoor cache. I recommend you do the same. I’ve already referenced a couple of them.

First Aid and CPR How-To

You already know how to perform CPR and offer fist aid in an emergency, but even the best of us can get confused in a stressful situation or even be susceptible to a shock so do everyone a favor and carry a short visual tutorial with you with key information highlighted.

Fire Starting How-To

There are so many ways to start a fire with different things you may have on hand! As different circumstances and environmental conditions present themselves, you will need to reference different methods. You may not be the only one to need that tutorial – think about your family members. What if you are not around? Will they know to use steel wool? Star fire with ice? You get the picture.

Deer Skinning How-To

Depending on where you live and what options you have, deer may become a major food source for you. If you don’t hunt, but plan on it, you better have deer hunting tips laminated, too.

Canning How-To

If the end of the world as we know it happens in our lifetimes, preserving food from our gardens will become a survival necessity. While I am fairly confident in my canning skills, I know that getting a big head kills people, so I prefer to have a guide on hand, detailing the proportions, processing times and other important stuff.

Natural Remedies How-To

Medical care may not be at your disposal in a survival situation, so I recommend printing off an instructional that shows how to remedy various ailments at home (or in the field). There are lots of natural medicines for dental issues, skin conditions, cold and flu, etc.

Recognizing Edible Plants

Hopefully you have a garden and have food stored up – it is a much more efficient option than gathering food, but just in case, it is a good idea to research what edible plants are native to your area and learn to recognize them. I urge you to print this how-to in full color (this one will take more than one sheet of paper, too). In any case, keep in mind that eating wild plants and especially mushrooms is a dangerous undertaking, so you better be 100% sure that you know what you are doing.

Water Filtration and Purification Methods

Suppose you run out of water purification tablets. What filtration and purification options do you have? I’m sure you know to boil your water, but what if you don’t have a suitable dish for boiling? There are actually a few techniques that you can employ. Creating a how-to will help you remember the details.

I’m sure that you will find other how-to topics as you continue to grow as a prepper. At this point, I urge you to buy a laminator.

Additional FREE Resources

Living Frugally In Suburbia
You live differently than your neighbors.

14 Frugal Food-Rescuing Tips from Grandma
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!

8 Simple Ways to Put More Money in Your Pocket
Have more money without working harder!

Knowing When and How to Stockpile Groceries
Stocking up could save your grocery budget!

Emergency Preparedness on a Budget
Affordable ways to prepare for an emergency.

Trusts 101: Why Have a Trust? Trusts aren't just for very wealthy or complicated estates. They could be helpful for many "average" folks, too. Here are the basics of trusts: what they do, and how they can be used

Contributors and subscribers enable the Poor Man Survivor to post 150+ free essays & free reports that I provide annually. It is for this reason they are Heroes and Heroines of New Media. Without your financial support, the free content would disappear for the simple reason that I cannot keep body and soul together on my meager book sales & ecommerce alone. You can make a donation at top of this page via PayPal.