Everyday InfoSec

BitWarden Password Manager QuickStart

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BitWarden Logo

The Password Problem

BitWarden is a free open source password manager that we will get you setup to quickstart.

We all use passwords everywhere because they are easy to implement and use and restrict data access to authorized people.

But they’re a pain to remember and create for every account.

xkcd.com/936 Password Strength

Worse, if you’re human like we are you can’t remember a unique password for every account you have. While larger companies use Single Sign On (SSO) Agents, there aren’t good options for small businesses. Don’t fret, we’ve got you with the password manager, and we recommend the free BitWarden.

xkcd.com/792 Password re-use

BitWarden helps with all these problems

  • Generate secure new unique passwords
  • Safely store your old passwords
  • Auto-fill passwords only when needed
  • Check for password re-use

Setting up BitWarden

  1. Start by thinking of a secure long passphrase much like the “correcthorsebatterystaple” example from above, but unique. Jot this down in a location you can physically access and protect like a locking file cabinet.
  2. Create an account with BitWarden. It’s free and easy.
  3. Download BitWarden (You will want to install it on all computers and mobile devices you use, but you can do that after you’re setup on your first machine)
  4. When you first install it on a device it will attempt to import any saved passwords from your web browser. Go ahead and do that. That’s what we want.
  5. Additionally you may want to disable your browser’s built-in password storage. We prefer using BitWarden because they work on all devices and browser built-in functionality invariably doesn’t.
  6. BitWarden offers some great written and video guides to use their software, check them out!
  7. Enjoy a free, more secure way to navigate your digital life!

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us for help.

***Please Note*** BitWarden is what’s called a zero-trust security solution. In simple terms this means that BitWarden nor Oak City IT LLC have any knowledge nor access to your master password to unlock your secure data vault. If you lose this password you can still request a reset to your account and begin using it again, but all the passwords and data contained in there will be wiped. This also means that there is no way for anyone to accidentally or purposefully steal your data without that password. So it is important that you guard it.

Oak City IT Blog

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IT work that actually works

IT work that actually works! We share all the best tips and tricks to tech in your organization. Also, posts show off our clients’ success stories which are ideas for how we can help you.

Modern computing technology requires a wide breadth and depth of knowledge. Thus we’re not only comfortable sharing our tips and tricks we insist on empowering you.

Your goals are our goals

Many IT service providers stick to old processes to do their job. This might have worked at one point, but you have new needs today to adapt to an ever changing world. Consider asking a professional that’s more in tune to your needs than trying to reach a quota on their ticketing system. To give you IT work that actually works for you we listen to your needs and goals first then apply our vast knowledge to the best solution for you.

Need something faster? Got a tight budget to work with? Need the best in class solutions? Our loyalty is solely to our clients. Trust us to not railroad you into a solution that fits our needs and forgets yours. Instead we will take your goals and consult with you on the best way to reach them.

Think global; act local

We have experience working with clients all over the world, but we like to focus on organizations in the greater Raleigh North Carolina area. We live here and we like figuratively and literally seeing eye to eye in person. If your Internet connection goes down, you don’t want to have to wait on service from someone in another time zone to try to fix it. You need help now. We look forward to earning your trust with the services you need and there’s no better way than to provide knowledgeable timely help in person!

    Contact us for a free quote

    Privacy Focused Search Alternatives

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    Everyday InfoSec Search

    Looking for privacy focused search alternatives? Here, let me google that for you. Or…perhaps not. If you stop to think about how Google’s marketing were able to replace the word search with their service, it’s impressive. But are there any everyday InfoSec search alternatives? The company that once lived by the motto: “Do no evil” may now be too big to effectively enforce their defining principle. 

    The Problem

    You may have also noticed that in focusing on making money serving you ads, the search results aren’t as good as they once were. Google is better than some tech companies, but any information shared with a tech company that you cede ownership gives them that data forever. What if you’re a privacy focused person searching for alternatives? We currently lack the legal infrastructure to do anything about shared personal data, thus companies will likely collect all they can and keep it as long as they can in order to maximize their own profits.

    Privacy Focused Search Alternatives

    So what do we do if we want our data private? Not share it with proprietary companies that only have their own financial interests at heart of course! While that may seem obvious and easier said than done, it’s not. Let’s get your Internet search data private in a just one click. What if I told you that you can get quality search results without being tracked and profiled? Well you can. Try duckduckgo.com If you like it, consider using it as your default search engine in all your browsers. We’ll cover how to do that on the next post in Everyday InfoSec.

    DuckDuckGo

    Read More InfoSec Tips on our Blog

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      Security Checkpoint Google Authenticator App: Join us as we bolster security in our Google Account using MFA and an Authenticator App. We prefer and demonstrate Authy, but you’re welcomed to u…

    • Security Checkpoint Google Passkeys

      Security Checkpoint Google Passkeys get us all one step closer to our goal from earlier this year to have secure simple sign ins.

      Security Checkpoin…

    • Security Checkpoint Google 2SV

      Enable Google 2SV for Multifactor Authentication

      Security Checkpoint Google 2SV can be enable for proactive protection on your Google account.

      <...

    Everyday InfoSec Cyber Security Tips

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    InfoSec Cyber Security tips are here to keep you protected from cyber threats online. Information Security, or InfoSec, is a growing concern for everyone. We live increasingly on our computers, smartphones, online, and in the cloud. And why not? We can work with people around the world, telecommute, turn in school assignments, research with access to more information in split seconds than most people in all history had. Get quick tips for improving your Cyber Security and protect all your bits here.

    firewall icon

    But I don’t have to tell you that your information isn’t secure nor is it private by default. You’ve already heard the news reports: this social media site got hacked, your credit was hacked so you’ve got a new card in the in the mail, scam calls swindled people out of their money. It’s enough to make your head spin.

    Don’t Panic. This new series of bite-sized blog posts will give you practical tips to understand and mitigate data privacy and cyber security threats in your life. Each post will take less time than it takes to get a cup of coffee!

    There’s even quite a few quick, easy, and free ways to start like searching with duckduckgo.com.

    While you’re here see how we’ve helped other clients achieve success. You might get some good InfoSec Cyber Security Tips for your own organization!