Google launches consumer education campaign to make the web safer

Google is spending millions of dollars on a large-scale print and web-based security campaign in the US to encourage consumers to brush up on their online security skills and help people stay safe on the web. “Technology can be confusing, and the industry often fails to explain clearly enough why digital literacy matters. So today in the U.S. we’re kicking off Good to Know, our biggest-ever consumer education campaign focused on making the web a safer, more comfortable place,” said Alma Whitten, director of Privacy, Product and Engineering at Google. The advertising campaign aims to provide everyday users with clear and concise privacy and security tips -- explained in layman's terms -- to help them manage their online identities, create safer passwords and to protect their computers from cybercriminals. The adverts will appear in US newspapers and in public places such as bus stops in NYC, but anyone can head to the Good to Know website to follow Google’s online safety advice. Google’s top security tips for users include:     Use 2-step verification     Lock your computer when you are not using it     Use different, hard-to-guess passwords for each site you log onto     Make sure your connection to a website is secure According to password management application maker SplashID, some of the most commonly used passwords in 2011 were “password,” “123456,” “12345678,” “qwerty,” “abc123” and “monkey.” Simple passwords may be much easier to remember, but they are also much easier for people to crack so it’s important to create complex passwords. If you have trouble remembering all your passwords (Lifehacker says the only secure password is the one you can’t remember) you could try using a password manager like LastPass, KeePass or 1Password. Microsoft advises that the keys to creating strong passwords are “length and complexity” on its Safety and Security Center website. Other sites suggest using multi-word phrases with spaces -- which are much easier to remember -- to make your passwords more secure (rather than using six-character-only passwords). Google is also experimenting with a feature that lets you securely access your Google account on a public computer without typing in your password (protecting it from keyloggers).