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Your first thought might be no big deal. LinkedIn is a site mostly for bizfolks wanting to exchange information about job openings and the like - not a place to keep financial information. Problem is, folks often use the same password across multiple sites - including banks and credit card companies. So when a file containing 6.5 million encoded LinkedIn passwords winds up on a Russian hacker site. it could be a big deal. If you're worried about being one of those 6.5 million, it's best to change your password - not just on LinkedIn, but on all your sites that have the same password. Some other tips from the NYT:
Choose your security questions carefullyHackers can easily reset your password using basic information found on the Internet. During the 2008 presidential campaign, a hacker was able to reset Sarah Palin's password using her birth date, ZIP code and information about where she met her husband -- the security question on her Yahoo account, the answer to which -"Wasilla High"- was available on the Web. On Tuesday, a hacker claimed he had been able to crack into Mitt Romney's Hotmail and Dropbox accounts using the name of his favorite pet.
Store your passwords somewhere safe
Do not store your passwords in your e-mail inbox. Consider a password manager, password-protected software that lets you store all your usernames and passwords in one place. Some programs will even create strong passwords for you and automatically log you into sites as long as you provide one master password. Those programs also make it impossible for hackers to crack your accounts using keystroke logging software or a phishing attack. Several password managers work across platforms. Splash Data offers password-management software for Windows and Macs and mobile devices, as does Agile Bits with its 1Password software. Top Ten Reviews has reviews of password managers for PCs.
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.