online service passwords Yahoo etc

After the latest admissions from yet another online service, Yahoo, that account logins, passwords etc have been compromised, it is timely to  consider the implications – especially as a lot of UK BT Internet users use Yahoo for their email.

The most important piece of advice is to login and change your password ASAP, and don’t re-use the same passwords for any other online services.

It is worth using 2-factor security, where any attempt to login in on a different new device has to be authenticated with something like a one-off code sent to your nominated mobile phone number. Google, among others, offers other off-line options as well.

There is a good article about the considerations and how passwords should be safeguarded by on-line services here: www.howtogeek.com/171236/why-you-should-worry-whenever-a-services-password-database-is-leaked.

A very good way to handle logins, passwords etc is to use a Password and Form Manager. This can automatically generate unique, strong passwords for all your logins etc and fill them in automatically once you’ve logged into the Password Manager with a single, memorable but strong password. I use RoboForm – as well as managing logins and passwords in this way it can also securely fill-in on-line forms. It has versions for Windows, Mac OS, Android and iPhone. The RoboForm EveryWhere feature will securely synchronise your logins etc on-line, so that changes and new logins added on, say, your phone are updated on your computer.

If you use a password manager don’t forget to delete saved passwords in your web browser, here’s how to do it.

Update Fri 16th’Dec:

A colleague has reminded me that you can check to see if your email address or login has been compromised at haveibeenpwned.com it can also alert you to future compromises.