The Daring Librarian

I was going to update this post from last year & add some new stuffs for 2013 because this IS the time of year that I do try to do my Geeky housecleaning. But dag...this post holds up! So..being sorta lazy anyway I'm going to re-post it with new commentary! (click above for a larger size or download PDF it here ) 1. Change your passwords. Yes, ALL of them.   According to CNN Tech an 8 digit password can be hacked in 2 hours but a 12 character password would take 17 years. Use this handy Comic Tutorial to create a really super new password for every website....don't worry, there's a trick!  You don't have to go to every site you use right away - just make a commitment that when you do go to a site that requires your password you take the extra 5 min to change your password - maybe using the suggestions in my Comic Tutorial. Basically, have a root password, a varying numeric addition (not the year or your B-DAY!) and add an ending that has something to do wit...

I'm usually not one for new year's resolutions. If I decide to do something the calendar doesn't matter & I've blown too many good resolutions to believe an arbitrary day will make a diff. BUT...there are a few things that are easily done & feels great for a SUPER GEEKY SAFE ....errm Aware! New Year. (There is no *safe* on the Interwebs, only Aware!) (click above for a larger size or download PDF it here ) 1. Change your passwords. Yes, ALL of them. According to CNN Tech an 8 digit password can be hacked in 2 hours but a 12 character password would take 17 years. Use this handy NEW! Comic Tutorial to create a really super new password for every website....don't worry, there's a trick! Oh and in the small print I said 3 important things - Change your passwords twice a year, have a different password for Facebook that you don't use for ANYwhere else because FB's security is notoriously craptastic (and the bank, too), and as a disclaimer - I...

(reposted from our MHMS Media Blog ) Every week we have kids come to the library media center, flash drive in hand, eyes wide and panicked because their computer or printer didn't work the night before and the paper is DUE TODAY! And though 99% of the time we can help them - how much less stressful would it be if you had solid tech tips to finish, save & print that report or assignment outside of school? Visit our newly re-designed MHMS Learning Wiki Tech Trouble Shooting Tips page for step by step directions (with pictures!) on how to email your teacher your work digitally if you find your printer out of ink at 10pm, how to save a .DOC and NOT a .DOCX, and other great techie trouble shooting tips! First suggestion: Email your work to your teacher! Visit the Murray Hill Middle School Website and follow the directions below (click to go to wikipage) Other Hot Topics Covered: My Printer Isn't Working Home! What do I Do!? I can't open my report! I don't h...