Hacking Is A Terrible Problem. Passwords Are A Big Problem Too
Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am a guest contributor on CHOM 97.7 FM radio broadcasting out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 5 to 10 minutes every week – about everything that is happening in the world of technology and digital media. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly to SoundCloud, if you’re interested in hearing more of me blathering away. I’m really excited about this opportunity, because this is the radio station that I grew up on listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry and Heather B. morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.
This week we discussed:
Please tell me your password is not 123456? On one hand, we are all terrified that our data is being stolen, but on the other hand, we could not be worse at passwords. Last week, SplashData released their annual list of the most popular passwords of the past year. How? It looked at the more than two million passwords that got leaked last year, and analyzed them. Here’s the top five: 1. 123456. 2. password 3. 12345678 4. qwerty 5. 12345. So, what makes a good password?
Do you hear that buzzing? Well, the buzz on drones has become so big, that the FAA in the United States now requires owners to register their drones. After 30 days, 300,000 have already been registered with the agency. The drones must be registered before they are flown and operators must be over 13 years of age (and a US citizen/legal permanent resident). The online registration costs $5 and lasts for three years. This online registration will soon be open to commercial operators by the end of March. What about Canada? Here’s what the government says: “you are legally required to apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). This applies to all UAVs used for anything but the fun of flying and regardless of how much they weigh. Transport Canada inspectors will review your SFOC application and determine what safety conditions are needed to reduce the risks. You must send a detailed application to the Transport Canada Civil Aviation office in the region where you intend to fly your UAV.” Remember when we thought that drones would not be popular for a long time to come?