Ask Leo! #362 - Good passwords probably aren't what you think, backing up TrueCrypt, restore points and more... - Confident Computing

The Ask Leo! Newsletter

*** Featured

How do I choose a good password?

In the last couple of weeks, we've once again heard of a couple of major websites suffering from data breaches that have exposed information about millions of user passwords to hackers.

This theft brings up again the concept of so-called "good passwords."

What many people don't realize is that the thinking around exactly what it means to have a good password is changing.

And it may be changing in ways you wouldn't expect.

To understand what makes a good password, we need to understand just a little about what makes passwords vulnerable - which means understanding a couple of the different ways that hackers hack.

Along the way, I'll also discuss hashes (again) and why a "salted hash" isn't breakfast food, but rather a critically important approach websites should be using to keep track of your passwords.

And there will be rainbows.

Continue reading: How do I choose a good password?
http://ask-leo.com/C5440

* * *

How do you perform a backup to an external drive that is TrueCrypted?

How do you perform a backup to an external drive that is TrueCrypted? Do you just mount a drive on the external hard drive then backup will know to backup into TrueCrypt?

Backing up TrueCrypt volumes and backing up to TrueCrypt volumes tend easily to confuse people.

In this audio segment from an Ask Leo! webinar, I'll discuss how backing up and TrueCrypt relate and review what I do to backup my TrueCrypt encrypted data.

Continue reading: How do you perform a backup to an external drive that is TrueCrypted?
http://ask-leo.com/C5439

* * *

Do you have any tips for writing batch files in Windows?

I'm very interested in writing my own batch files, some scripts for Windows since I have learned to do this in Linux. But I think Windows acts differently than Linux when running scripts in the command prompt. Do you know any tips about writing batch files and scripts in Windows command prompt that you can share? Or know of any good documentation that I can look for?

Having started in Linux, you've got a good foundation – many of the concepts that you might have learned writing scripts in Linux actually apply to Windows batch files as well. The devil, as they say, is in the details and the different syntax of the various commands.

In this segment from an Ask Leo! webinar, I'll show a couple of places to get information about what Windows batch files can do.

Continue reading: Do you have any tips for writing batch files in Windows?
http://ask-leo.com/C5438

* * *

*** Answercast

Answercast #25 - Losing data while upgrading and reformatting, fooling keyloggers, crashing, restore points and more...

Is cracking an Excel or BIOS password too easy? Do you want to upgrade or move restore points? Ever wonder how to set up a multi-user work station or use several Hotmail accounts? That and more in Answercast #25...

Continue reading: Answercast #25 - Losing data while upgrading and reformatting, fooling keyloggers, crashing, restore points and more...
http://ask-leo.com/C5441

Why would I lose all the data on my hard drive after a Windows reinstallation?
Reformatting and reinstalling an operating system will, by the very nature of "reformat," erase all the data on your computer. Yes, everything will be erased. You will need to backup.
Continue reading: Why would I lose all the data on my hard drive after a Windows reinstallation?
http://ask-leo.com/C5442

How can I connect multiple users to my machine at the same time?
Multiple computers stations that seem to be running off of one computer are possible with Windows Server Software. This isn't your usual XP machine.
Continue reading: How can I connect multiple users to my machine at the same time?
http://ask-leo.com/C5443

Is there a way to place restore points on a drive other than the system drive?
System Restore can take up a lot of room on a hard drive. I have a better recommendation than trying to move the restore points.
Continue reading: Is there a way to place restore points on a drive other than the system drive?
http://ask-leo.com/C5444

How do I fix mydownloader.app crashing whenever I try to download something?
This particular problem with downloading sounds like something has inserted itself in the computer system. It's behaving suspiciously like malware.
Continue reading: How do I fix mydownloader.app crashing whenever I try to download something?
http://ask-leo.com/C5445

Can Hotmail let me switch between accounts?
Switching between Hotmail accounts requires logging out completely from one, and signing into another. Other methods might not give you the results you are looking for.
Continue reading: Can Hotmail let me switch between accounts?
http://ask-leo.com/C5446

How should I backup my computer before upgrading to Windows 7?
Windows XP does not come, out of the box, with a backup software that will make upgrading easy. I suggest a stand-alone program to help with the process.
Continue reading: How should I backup my computer before upgrading to Windows 7?
http://ask-leo.com/C5447

How do I remove password protection from an Excel document?
I won't tell you how to crack an Excel password, but I will tell you a better way to keep it protected.
Continue reading: How do I remove password protection from an Excel document?
http://ask-leo.com/C5448

I forgot my BIOS password, how do I get into my machine?
Many computers are built with the BIOS password protected from reset... for good reason. There may be a way to still recover your data.
Continue reading: I forgot my BIOS password, how do I get into my machine?
http://ask-leo.com/C5449

Will using history or remembered passwords bypass malware and keyloggers?
The best (and only) way to stop keyloggers is to prevent malware from installing itself on your computer. Malware can see everything...
Continue reading: Will using history or remembered passwords bypass malware and keyloggers?
http://ask-leo.com/C5450

How do I get SFC to work if it calls for my original CD which I don't have?
System File Checker needs an original installation media of some sort to do its job. Fortunately, there are alternatives to having the original CD.
Continue reading: How do I get SFC to work if it calls for my original CD which I don't have?
http://ask-leo.com/C5451

How do I export and import my contact lists folder structure?
Transferring data between email programs can be tricky. You may have to re-organize.
Continue reading: How do I export and import my contact lists folder structure?
http://ask-leo.com/C5452

*** Our Sponsor

Keeping Your PC Fast & Secure

PC Matic is safe and simple to use software that automates the
regular maintenance necessary to keep your PC running like new.

Developed by PC Pitstop - relied on by millions of
computer users for award winning troubleshooting tools.

Start with a Free Diagnostic Scan Today!
https://cart.pcpitstop.com/go.asp?id=500140

Advertisement. Ask Leo about advertising here.

*** Last Issue's Articles

*** Word o' the Week

partition

A partition is an area on a physical hard disk (or disk-like device) that is constructed to look like a separate logical hard disk.

In many systems and on many disks the two are effectively synonymous: a single partition is constructed that encompasses the entire available space on a hard disk.

Dividing a hard disk into multiple partitions is simply a method of organizing the available space. A single 100GB drive, for example, could be divided into two partitions of 50GB each (ignoring overhead). To programs running on that system it would appear that there were two distinct drives (perhaps C: and D: in Windows), when in fact there is only one physical drive.

Partitioning is also commonly used by computer manufacturers to place data such as a pristine system image or other installation media onto a hard disk when an operating system is pre-installed. A small partition - typically hidden so as not to be visible by default - is created to contain this recovery information and the remainder of the disk is setup as a separate, visible, partition.

Word o' the Week features a computer term or acronym taken from the Ask Leo! Glossary. If there's a word you're not sure of and would like to see defined, click here to let me know.

*** Leo Recommends

TrueCrypt - Free Open Source Industrial Strength Encryption

TrueCrypt comes up frequently in Ask Leo! answers. Many people are concerned about things like privacy, identity and data theft, particularly on computers or on portable devices where they might not always have total physical control of the media.

Someone might gain access to sensitive data stored on your computer.

Encrypting your data renders that access useless, even when your computer or your thumbdrive falls into the wrong hands.

And TrueCrypt makes it not only easy, but nearly un-crackable.

Continue reading: TrueCrypt - Free Open Source Industrial Strength Encryption
http://ask-leo.com/C3444

Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that I've found valuable and that I think you may as well. What does my recommendation mean?

Share!:

*** Administration

Help Ask Leo! Just forward this message, in its entirety (but without your unsubscribe link below) to your friends. Or, just point them at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com for their own FREE subscription!

Need more help with or have questions about the newsletter? Check out the newsletter administration page.