security_class_101 Day_2

security 101:

Day 2: 

LastPass

LastPass is my cloud based Password data-base management application. I personally use KeePassX for local, and LastPass for my Internet passwords alone. I like different features in either app better. The major advantages to LastPass are the full range of Browser compatibility(IE,Opera, chrome/chromium, safari).  The browsers it does not play well with are:Maxthon, Avant, and a bunch of the Linux web-browsers(epiphany{gnome}midori), while a bunch of Linux browsers are based on the source code of firefox.

I will say that I am reviewing this from a free user perspective. If anyone wants to see a review of the pro, and how yubiKey works with LastPass. Although Hak5 has done a bunch of episodes on using yubiKey's, and LastPass.

LastPass advantages:


~ compliant w/ all of the major operating systems:Linux/mac/windows/BSD(sadly no haiku)

~ has a two factor authentication w/ cards, to perform two factor auth. with the free version.

~ has a security check for checking the strength of your passwords.
(there were three fast screens that flew by encrypting passwords, sending passwords, calculating password strength...)

~share the results to brag to your friend's or like in my case be disappoint by a mere 86%...:~{

~ Imports from almost any format, but doesn't export into many formats.

Import

VS.

export

~  Secure notes for keeping "secret" Lists.
(you can also copy/paste anything in one of thise lists you want.)


~ one click filling of form-data
(although I use AutoKey 2 automate strokes portably from inside a encrypted volume)

~Generate secure Passwords...

The LastPass Password generator, to give you an unlimited amount of random passwords.

 ~ It is my opinion that LastPass strength's lay in Cross-platform/browser, security check you can share with your friend's, a strong encryption focus. You can also use your Last Pass from the local Encrypted Vault. The Vault does work off-Line from your web-browser, but will alert you to off-Line being used. So even if Last Pass is doing maintenance, your still golden. I use my KeePassX local Linux password data-base, to fill in the Master-Password for my LastPass every time I log into most any of my browsers(I like Maxthon/Avant, Midori, and Epiphany as well...:/).

Although I think the main advantage from using any kind of password dataBase, is going to be the ease of use it is for (possibly-incompentent non-tech. users)to enter propperly strong passwords, and to easily change them if they find out their NT was attacked. 

Humble bundle 4: Get it b4 it's gone

I am happy to announce that the humble indie bundle 4, was just released yesterday. Now if you have not heard of the Humble indie bundle, then you have probably been hiding under some sort of digital rock for the last year or so.

These games are now fully cross platform on all modern operating systems. What that means is that you can purchase the games, and play them on either your windows, Apple, or Linux operating system. This is super exciting to me because it is a fantastic way to usher in a host of games into the Linux gaming arena. I still run into the myth on a regular basis, that Linux has no good games for it. This couldn't be further from the truth. Actually Linux users in previous indie bundle, have consistently been the most charitable givers.

Did I mention that the proceeds of these games are going to incredible charities. The two main charities are Child play, and the American red-cross.

First off is the child's play charity, which has been around since 2003. Child's play charity works with hospitals worldwide to find what kinds of games and gaming systems can be used in various hospitals to help make the recovery process an enjoyable experience. Let's help bring children in need of hope a light in their dark, and scary times.

The American red cross is a disaster relief organization. These days it seems like every where you turn there is a natural disaster getting ready to strike. When the disastrous Earthquake in Hatti struck, the American Red-cross was there to do everything in it's power to end the suffering of the local Haitian people.

Now for a sneak peak @ the games:

Super Meat Boy

The game I am most wanting to play.

 

Jamestown:

Shank:

 Bit.Trip Runner:

NightSky HD:

Now if you pay above the average price, you also get the following two games. The avg. price was only five dollars and some change when I was there, which was amazing considering the retail value of the games all together is $100 and the proceeds go to charity.

Gratuitous Space Battles:

 Cave Story+: