Gwebs Cryptographer

Almost every week I can read news about smaller or bigger scandals about passwords or private data exposures. What’s wrong with today’s users ? Lack of common sense or are people just getting more and more stupid ? So many times I have faced these situations that someone is asking my email address and password, just for checking my address book. Or then the Microsoft Messenger trick “See who have blocked you from their MSN”. Or the one with credit card number “So many credit card numbers are exposed, check if your one is on the list”.

Come on, how easy can average user really be ?
I really think that people are getting more and more reliable on internet and all the services, but they really cannot see that there are also thiefs and other “bad people” around. So many of us are thinking that of course it’s safe, because it’s somehow related to service what user is using. But at the same time on the streets when someone is humbly asking to borrow their phone they get scared that the person will steal it or use it for illegal activities. Why this question never comes into their minds when acting in internet ?

At this time, a bit more than a week ago, Google’s Gmail and Yahoo’s Mail were also targeted by a large-scale phishing attack, perhaps the same one that harvested at least 10,000 passwords from Microsoft’s Windows Live Hotmail, according to a report by the BBC.

The BBC also said it has seen a list of some 20,000 hijacked e-mail accounts; the list included accounts from Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, Comcast and EarthLink. The latter two are major U.S. Internet service providers.

I assume that when people are reading these news, they are first over sensitive, maybe one week, after that paying attention what they do online and where they use their passwords, max. one month. And after this, they start acting like before. Maybe that one month they haven’t seen any progress of safety or increased privacy, so “it’s okay to continue the old style, no-one is interested about MY emails and passwords“. But this way of thinking is just that what might lead to scandals. Everyone’s email account is interesting, not necessarily the emails or the content itself, but all Your addresses, contacts, your passwords and login info for everywhere else, because still on these days normally the login infos are posted to one’s email, when starting to use new services.

And also one other thing, which I think is very important here, is that so many users used to use same passwords for different places. I know by myself, that it will be very difficult to remember all the passwords if they are just randomly made. For example 20 passwords for tools at work, 5 for your own emails, 20 for other services online (social networks, online banking, bookstores, games, etc.) And I’m not encouraging people to write them down, but just inventing some patterns to remember them or then using some other tools for securing all those passwords. I know that there are so many nice software available, which are taking care of your passwords, but for me, I don’t know can I trust them or not.

Here are links for more information about this scandal:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/gmail-and-yahoo-mail-passwords-exposed-737
http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/exposed-the-great-password-scandal-596064
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139000/Gmail_Yahoo_Mail_join_Hotmail_passwords_exposed

Here is nice collection of hints and tips for boosting online security:
http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/10-easy-ways-to-boost-your-online-security-591191

Security, email, google, personal, privacy AOL, BBC, email, gmail, Hotmail, Internet Security, microsoft, MSN Live!, privacy, Yahoo! Mail

I guess everyone who is using Gmail and/or other Google Apps have heard about this new Google Wave, which suppose to be mind blowing and transform the concept of email. Well, so far it’s a bit too early to say will this happen, because the release date of Google Wave will be at the end of this month, Sep 30th.

According several blog writings and articles Google Wave won’t put Gmail or Google Apps aside, at least not yet. It just seems to be Gmail with some extra features. So far, I have been using Gmail, G-talk (also with voice and video), Google Docs, calendar and other functions too as well. So when I’m watching the picture, it doesn’t seem to be SO different than Gmail. It just that all the functions and features are in a same box, inbox.

At the beginning this seems to be a bit confusing, but unfortunately the pictures or videos are not giving the whole truth. For me, I really want to experience it by myself before making any judgement.

Some other concerns, mostly about our business, is that will Gmail change too much when Google Wave is released, I mean that will our product MailCloak still work with this new concept of email. Like said, too early to say, because we didn’t get developers’ access to the Wave. Of course, we are going to test Wave immediately when it’s released so we can check the functionalities and see if our software is adaptable enough, or should we make some changes.

I guess, the biggest change will be the “waves”, that in what kind of concept they really are. And how easy it will be to secure all that data which is shared through those waves: Text, pictures, videos, links and other stuff.

Well, I go with the Google specialists’ comments “It’s very, very early to say..”. But we will see, in near future what’s gonna happen. I anyway assume that Gmail will still stand there for users at least for a while that the adaptation for the new system will be easy.

Thanks for Google’s official Blog and Gina Trapani about the pictures and all the information!

From the following links you’ll find more information about Google Wave:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/went-walkabout-brought-back-google-wave.html
http://smarterware.org/2021/google-wave-qa

Click the pictures to see them in full-size!

Gwebs, Security, email, google, privacy gmail, Google Apps, Google Docs, Google Wave, MailCloak, Security

These great tricks will have you using Gmail with multiple accounts. And doing it in style: faster, easier, safer, and with less trouble then ever before. Check ‘em out and let us know your favorite tricks.

1. (Automatically) Reply from the same address the message was sent to.

2. Check your POP Mail NOW!

3. Label Mail by account.

4. Use Colorful Labels to make them stand out!

5. Choose the right email address when sending mail.

6. Add Email Encryption

And: Reader Tricks (in comments)

Read more…

Security, email, google email, Email Security, gmail

Google just proved that it’s never too late to introduce great features.

I have been using Gmail to send myself notes and to do’s forever. I just write myself an email and save it as a draft. MailCloak even lets me keep my drafts encrypted… but now Google has finally added tasks to Gmail, so I’ll be upgrading my habits accordingly.

The good news:

Google tasks is fast, easy, and powerful.

Features include multiple lists, pop-out windows, useful tool-tips, integration with calendar, keyboard navigation, and probably a lot more I have’nt even found yet!

The bad news:

It takes a lot of screen real estate. And it’s not always easy to find.

Also, surprisingly, there’s no integration with email or google apps other then calendar, but maybe that’s a good thing.  A to do list is a to do list (K.I.S.S.).

That’s it. This is a small feature, so I’m gonna keep this review short.

email, google gmail, google, tasks

You probably know that Google’s Gmail allows you to access Gmail email from any internet connected-computer, but you may not know that Gmail also allows you to check any of your other email accounts, from any internet computer.

That’s right, Gmail will work as a POP3/IMAP/SMTP mail client, allowing you to check your other email accounts with Gmail!

Translation: you can use Gmail to check your ISP (like Verizon) email account, your business email account, or whatever email accounts you currently use that doesn’t have webmail, or doesn’t have webmail that’s as easy to use as Gmail. You can use Gmail to check your home email accounts when you’re away from home, and you can even use Gmail to check multiple accounts – up to five.

Using Gmail will also allow you to gWebs MailCloak to protect almost any email address out there – just add an address to your Gmail account, and your account will now support MailCloak!

So here’s the quick and dirty on how to get ‘er done!

1) Create a Gmail Account & sign in.

2) Go to your account settings and click “Add an account.”

3) Gmail has account settings for most major ISP’s already in their database, so all you have to do is give them your login information.

4) We suggest using colored labels to identify accounts.

5) Sending mail from a POP account within gmail is easy too! Just click on your email address (or think link that says “change” right next to it) when composing mail, and select the account you wish to send from.

Some of you tech-savvy geeks are saying “Got’er done, kthxbye!” right now, but if your’re still scratching your head, read on after the break for a super-detailed walk through of the whole process!

Read more…

email, fun, google, walkthrough client, email, gmail, gmail tricks, life hack, quick tricks, smtp, tricks, tutorial, Walk Through, webmail

Sometimes you send and receive important email.

Do you know who is watching?

Your email can be viewed by anyone with access to the systems it passes through.

Check out this new video, and then start protecting your email!

MailCloak is compatable with dozens of email services. To learn more, check out Global Web Security’s Offical Website!

PGP, Security, email, encryption, privacy Email Encryption, global web security, gmail, gmail encryption, google, hackers, MailCloak, msn, protection, safety, Security, Video, yahoo