How to Protect Yourself From Heartbleed

Security Flaw

Larry MagidCo-director

ConnectSafely.orgApril 11, 2014

Don’t panic• It’s a serious problem but it’s not the end of the Internet as

we know it• Flaw has been around for two years• So far (as of 4/11/14) there are no reports of the flaw being

exploited• Hardware could be vulnerable but not clear if consumer

routers are at risk

See if the sites you visit are vulnerable

• Check to see if sites you visit are now vulnerable*, using:• Lastpass Heartbleed checker• Filippo Valsorda's Hearbleed test• Qualys SSL Labs• Also check CNET’s list of top 100 sites

* The fact that a site is now vulnerable doesn’t mean it wasn’t in the past

Change passwords once you know your site is not vulnerable• After confirming that a site is not vulnerable, change the

password• Actually you should do this regularly – at least every few

months

• Keep reading for advice on how to change your passwords

Monitor your accounts & watch for phishing

• Check your accounts• Check your email, bank, social media and other accounts to make sure there is no

irregular or suspicious activity or unauthorized purchases

• Beware of “phishing attacks”• You might get email that appears to be from banks and other sites, "disclosing" that

the site was vulnerable and asking users to reset their passwords. These could be phishing attacks designed to trick you into revealing your log-on credentials to thieves. And some of these attacks are very sophisticated, taking you to sites that look identical to a company's real site

Change your passwords once you know the site isn’t vulnerable• Change your passwords after you know that the site isn't vulnerable• If you change them on currently vulnerable sites you’ll have to do it again

with another unique password

Read on for password suggestions

Passwords should be:• At least 8 characters long• Contain at least one number• Contain at least one capital letter• Contain at least one symbol (like #, %, &)• Not be a real word, name or anything that would be relatively easy to

guess

Go to next slide for suggestions

Think of a phrase you can remember

Come up with a phrase and use a character from each word. Use capitals where appropriate

Example

“I met Susan Morris at Lincoln High School in 1991”

The password could be: ImSMaLHSi#91

An easy way to make each password unique

• Add a letter or two to the password based on the name of the site you’re logging into. For example:

• Amazon: aImSMaLHSi#91z (added an A to beginning and a z to end)• Google: gImSMaLHSi#91• Twitter: tImSMaLHSi#91r

Change your passwords if & when:

• There has been any type of security breach on the site or your system• You have lost a device that has the password stored• Someone else gets hold of your password

• And even if none of this happens, change your passwords every few months

Consider 2-factor authentication• A growing number of sites allow you to use two-factor

authentication: Something you know & something you have.

• Typically, the site will send a code to your phone that you type in along with your username and password. Anyone trying to access your site without your phone is out of luck.

• Some sites (like Google) only require it if you’re on a new device. Others require it each time.

• Downsides are it’s a little inconvenient and a hassle if you don’t have your phone

• Upside: It’s a lot more secure (but not 100% secure)

Be wary of tricks to get your password

Avoid phishing: Never enter a password based on a link in an email unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate. It’s safer to type in the web address of your bank or other company rather than clicking on a link.Don’t give out password over phone: Be skeptical if you get a call from a service you use or your company’s network support department asking for a password. Tell them you’ll call them back and find out if it’s legitimate.

Consider using a password manager

• Password managers store and enter passwords for you. You can create really strong passwords (or let them generate random ones) and all you need to remember is the password manager’s password• Examples:Lastpass RoboformKaspersky Password ManagerDataVault Password Manager (iPhone)mSecure Password Manger (Android)

Use a very strong password for:• Email

• Many sites will send your password to your email address so it’s important that it be very secure

• Social network sites• Your reputation can be affected if someone posts negative and abusive material in

your name

• Banking• Pretty much goes without saying that you want a strong lock on your bank

account

• E-commerce sites• Don’t let anyone go on a shopping spree with your money

Never share your passwordsSharing a password is not a sign of being a good friend. Even if you really trust that person:

• A friend can become an ex-friend• Your friend might not be as careful as you are• Your friend might use the password on a machine that’s not all that secure• Possible exceptions are kids sharing with parents or spouses sharing with

each other

For more on strong passwords:

passwords.connectsafely.org

Larry MagidCo-director

ConnectSafely.org

larry@ConnectSafely.org