We all need passwords

Contrary to popular belief, passwords are not a sign of something sinister afoot. If I was to give a lecture on basuc IT awareness, I would begin with the importance of security. Like many people in todays world, half of our lives, memories and records are stored on some form of digital media or some cloud based service or social site.

Now, let us define or identify personal data or type of information you would store on digital media or devices. Think of your professional qualifications, your CV, certificates and copies of your passport, registration card and maybe bank correspondence. Think of all your emails, official and personal. Ordinarily this would be stored on a USB device like an external hard drive or flash drive or maybe a laptop, or more popular these days, the tablet or smartphone.

Portability and accessibility of digital devices and information have now become one of the defining qualities of a modern organised person. When you attend a meeting in todays world you will notice people fidgeting with their laptops, tablets or smartphones all in the quest to save or access information. This information can be anything, even personal details you sent to them.

Truth be told we have at one point taken a silly picture especially with the invention/discovery of 'the selfie'. It may not necessarily be in bad taste but may have been for your personal amusement, somehow you did not want to publish or publicise. Yes we have silly things on our portable digital devices.

Now imagine somebody breaks into your house or car and steals your laptop, tablet, phone... oh yes, and you don't have a password. How did Maingas things leak...??