With the recent hacking of the Associated Press’ Twitter account, which led to a flash crash in US markets, the security of social media accounts is again in the spotlight.
There have been numerous hacks of these sites and the people who use them in recent years.
Celebrities had their Twitter accounts hacked in 2009 and LinkedIn passwords for 6.5 million people were hacked in 2012.
While hacking social media accounts can be quite easy there are few simple things you can do to make it nearly impossible for the bad guys to break into your accounts.
Enable security features
All social media, web mail and online (cloud) storage sites provide a reasonable level of security. The problem is these security settings might not all be enabled by default.
In order to make these websites easy to use by the entire population on the Internet, companies try to provide a simple user experience.
Strong security however usually translates to a less user friendly experience, so companies don’t always enable all the security features for you.
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These security features include: encryption, two factor authentication, password recovery and security questions.
Encryption prevents your information from being intercepted by bad guys as it travels from your PC out over the Internet.
Two factor authentication uses a second device, usually a mobile phone, to add another layer of protection. In order to login to a site that uses this technology, a user needs to enter an additional PIN that gets sent to their phone via SMS. This is usually only done once per computer.
If a hacker gets a hold of your password, they won’t be able to login because they will not have this second PIN code.
Password recovery options and security questions help to strengthen your security by requiring additional information in order to reset a password or manage your account. The bad guys can use password reset functionality to take control of your account, these options help prevent that.
Social media sites also provide privacy controls to limit how much information you expose to the general public.
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Let’s take a look at the different options that are available on some of the big sites.
LinkedIn has the least number of security options available however it does have an option to enable encryption.
To enable this click on your name and then go to Settings -> Account -> Manage Security Settings and enable “When possible, use a secure connection (https) to browse LinkedIn”
Privacy options are available under Settings -> Account -> Profile -> Privacy Controls
One of the better sites from a security perspective, Facebook offers several security features. To find these, click on the Cog (options) -> Account Settings -> Security.
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Facebook provides encryption (secure browsing) and two factor authentication (login notifications & approvals).
Privacy options are available under Cog -> Account Settings -> Privacy
Big G provides some of the best security options for their services. If every web company invested this much in security the number of successful hacks would decrease significantly.
To view security options, click on your Google profile picture and go to Accounts -> Security. From here you can set up two factor authentication (2-step verification), password recovery options and security questions.
Google enables encryption by default.
Privacy controls are found here Account profile -> Account -> Profile and Privacy
Twitter is improving their security controls after the recent flash crash which occurred due to a fake Tweet posted by hackers on the Associated Press’ Twitter account.
Security options are available by going to Cog -> Settings -> Account.
Twitter has encryption enabled by default and also supports security questions (require personal information to reset my password). They are in the process of developing two factor authentication.
Microsoft
Similarly to Google, Microsoft enables encryption by default and also supports two factor authentication. They also provide an optional feature to force you to reset your password every 72 days.
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These options are available under Account Name -> Security Info
Apple
It took me a long time to find this site, but security options for your Apple ID are available at https://appleid.apple.com/.
Apple provides encryption by default as well as password recovery options and security questions. These are available under Password & Security.
DropBox
For those that use this cloud storage site, DropBox provides encryption by default as well as two factor authentication.
To find these settings, go to your account -> Settings -> Security
Every company is different
As you can see every web company approaches security differently and provides different options. The key is to understand what options are available and most importantly, to use them!
The trend in the last couple of years has been to roll out two factor authentication. Since passwords can be very weak, adding in the second factor (usually a phone) can greatly enhance your personal security.
Related: What Will Our World Look Like In 2050?
It might seem like a pain but we need to realize that our digital security is extremely important.
What additional steps do you take to protect yourself online?
Andrew Martin is a Canadian personal finance and investing blogger who recently moved to London, England. He has a background in technology and a passion for travel. His blog, She Thinks I’m Cheap aims to help Canadians build wealth by sharing facts, stories and advice.
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”
Polonius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet knew that lending money to a friend or family member often results in the loss of both the money and the relationship. But when someone you love is in a serious bind and you have the means to help it can be impossible to say no.
So what do you do when someone asks if they can borrow some money? Take the time to consider your answer.
Related: Home Equity Line Of Credit: Friend Or Foe?
Deal with cash only
Don’t apply for a credit card in your name for someone else to use. Consider carefully if you are asked to co-sign a loan.
Never put yourself in a position where someone else’s actions could affect your ability to secure credit in the future.
Prepare for the worst. Only lend what you can afford. Are you willing to forgive the debt if it’s not repaid? Can you afford to give the amount as a gift?
Get full details
Find out what the money is for. Is it an emergency, or the result of poor spending decisions? If the friend or family member becomes offended by your questions, take that as a red flag.
Related: Why Do We Save?
How well do you know the person? Is it someone you’ve known for a long time, or a new friend or relationship? Are they responsible and trustworthy, or a moocher?
Does the person have the means to reimburse you? Try to evaluate their money situation. What other avenues have been sought?
Discuss terms
Talking about money with loved ones can be awkward but you need to be clear about your expectations.
Discuss the repayment plan while everyone is friendly and anxious to make this work. Don’t leave the loan open-ended.
A small loan could be repaid in full by next payday or if a lump sum is expected shortly. A larger sum may need regular payments to be made.
Related: Quick Cash Solutions – A Dangerous Game
Get it in writing
A verbal agreement might be considered legally binding, but it still comes down to your word against someone else’s – even someone you trust.
It’s difficult to ask for money back when you don’t want the borrower to feel awkward but you don’t want to worry about when you’ll be repaid, either.
For large loans, a promissory note outlines a reasonable repayment plan.
Many websites (like this one) offer free promissory note forms that you can print out and fill in the blanks.
Will you charge interest?
What will happen in the case of late payments, – or no payback at all?
What about collateral? Something of the perceived value of the loan amount could be held until the loan is repaid. If you decide to add your name to the registration of a vehicle or house it would be a wise move to set it up with a lawyer.
Distance yourself
Deal with problems with late payments right away if necessary, but once you’ve agreed to lend the money it’s no longer in your control. Don’t obsess about how it is spent.
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You don’t have the right to inspect chequebooks or make lifestyle judgments (“You’d have money if you quit smoking!”) or try to manipulate the person.
Consider the impact
Lending to one family member or friend and not another could impact relationships and cause conflict, especially if they see favoritism or enabling behavior.
Make sure your spouse is on board with the decision or it could result in considerable stress if you are lending family money.
Consider what will happen if you die before the loan is paid back. Will the loan be forgiven? Still owed to the estate? Or subtracted from the beneficiary’s share of the inheritance?
Just say no.
If you’re not comfortable with lending money to friends and family, it may be in your best interests to decline the request.
Don’t feel guilty or pressured or beat around the bush. Don’t keep the asker hanging – respond in a timely manner.
“I’d love to help but I’m not in a position to lend you money right now.”
Perhaps you can help in some other way, or find other options. Trust your instincts.
Final words
Sometimes relationships trump traditional money sense. Make sure you’re being smart about it. Being too trusting or forgiving may be admirable but it can also lead to being taken advantage of, even by someone who has the best intentions.
Don’t become the go-to lender in your circle of family and friends. Once you’ve lent money that person may ask again or others may also ask for loans.
Don’t dip into your retirement plan or plunder your emergency savings. What if you might need the money in the future? No one knows what tomorrow holds.
If payments are irregular, then sporadic, then occasional, expect that the nature of your relationship will change – it will never revert back to normal.
Money can drive apart friendships and family relationships.
Related: Do You Play Dumb About Your Personal Finance Knowledge?
Try to make lending money a positive experience for the people involved.
Have you ever lent money to a friend or family member? Or, were you a borrower?
How did that work out for you?
Taking a family vacation can feel more like work than a holiday when you have two kids under the age of four. Still, I think it’s important to get away from our routine every few months, even if it’s just for a short trip.
Last week, after packing what seemed like the entire contents of our house into the car – while still leaving room for the four of us – we headed off to Banff, AB for three nights of rest and relaxation.
As stressful as it was for me and my wife to haul everything (and everyone) around for a few days, it was worth it to see our kids have such a great time in the Rocky Mountains.
Finding appropriate accommodations can be a challenge because we like to have a kitchen and a separate bedroom for the kids. A family room at a decent hotel can cost over $200 a night.
Related: Inside Tip – How To Save Money On Hotel Rooms
Here are three ways to save money on your family vacation while still enjoying some of the comforts of home:
Travel Zoo
I first heard about Travel Zoo when I worked in the hotel industry. Travel Zoo is an online deal site with over 26 million subscribers across the globe. They publish a weekly list of the top 20 travel, entertainment and local deals.
To get listed in the top 20, a hotel needs to offer a significant deal off its best available rate. So you can expect to save between 30 to 50 percent off the best rate you can find online.
The deals are only offered for a specific period, so there’s limited availability and they tend to fill up quickly.
Our Banff getaway was a Travel Zoo deal for a resort with a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for $123 per night (regular $239 per night). They even included a gift basket and a bottle of wine.
I checked online to make sure we were indeed getting a great deal and the best rate I could find was a web special for $179 per night. So the Travel Zoo deal saved us 30 percent.
Travel Zoo is a great resource for saving money on your vacation but I’ll admit that most of the time I delete the weekly email because the destinations don’t interest me.
Related: Instead of a Vacation, Plan a Staycation
That’s where Travel Zoo’s local deals section comes in handy. They list the latest deals for hotels, restaurants, golf courses and other entertainment options in your local area.
VRBO
We love camping in the mountains but it’s a challenge to ‘rough it’ when you’ve got two young kids to look after.
Last summer we rented a lakeside cabin in Moyie, B.C. (just west of Cranbrook). We found it through a website called VRBO.com.
VRBO is Vacation Rentals By Owner and you can find over 265,000 vacation rentals around the world.
The cabin was just off the lake and had 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and plenty of space in the living room and kitchen. It also had a large balcony with a BBQ and a great view of the lake and mountains.
Related: 10 Great Canadian Outdoor Summer Adventures
It cost $150 per night, which is a far cry from spending $28 per night at the camp site. However, depending on the location and time of year, you can rent a cabin for under $1,000 a week.
Where you can really save money with VRBO is if you have a large family, or when you stay with another couple or family.
Years ago, before we had kids, we rented a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom cabin on Kootenay Lake just outside of Nelson, B.C. We stayed with two other couples and the cabin cost $1,000 for a week. When you break that down we spent less than $50 per couple, per night.
Priceline
My experience with Priceline comes more from the industry side than the consumer side. With the Priceline ‘Name Your Own Price’ option, you pick the location and type of hotel you want to stay at and then set the price you’re willing to pay.
Priceline is different than Expedia or Travelocity because the name of the hotel you select isn’t revealed until you confirm and pay for your reservation.
That’s the reason hotels are able to offer much lower rates on Priceline than they can on their own websites or through other online booking sites.
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Expedia and Travelocity require hotels to offer them the same rates that they advertise on their own hotel websites. They call this ‘rate parity’ and it ensures that you always get the lowest published rate when you book on Expedia or Travelocity.
The advantage of Priceline is that, because the hotel isn’t revealed until the time you book, hotels can offer rock bottom rates to fill up their inventory without getting any grief from the other online booking sites.
So if you don’t care where you’re staying, but you know that you want to be in a specific location (downtown, south side, etc.) and have certain amenities available, Priceline can save you a bundle.
A quick search of downtown Toronto hotels shows that the average room rate for a 4-star hotel is $217 per night. I entered a bid for $65 a night and got a match. It can be that easy.
Related: 6 Free Mobile Apps That Make Travel Easier
One caveat is that Priceline doesn’t really allow for special requests (like a family room, for example) so you’d be on your own to negotiate that with the hotel once you book.
*Note: If anyone has experience using Priceline to book a flight please share in the comments section.
Final Thoughts
When I worked in the hotel industry I was able to stay at any of our sister properties across Canada for as little as $39 per night.
I no longer have that luxury, but with a little bit of research I can still save money on our family vacation using resources like Travel Zoo, VRBO and Priceline.
Related: Are Road Trips Cheaper Than Flying?
What’s your go to source for saving money on travel?