Posted by Paul Roebuck on Thu, May 20, 2010 @ 10:42 AM
Most people treat passwords to their important computer files like their personal name. They have one password that they use for everything for their entire life.
Today you cannot do anything on a computer without entering a password even if you enter nothing as your password.
Every "e-access" is supposedly protected from what you just ate and noted in last your last Tweet, to your financial information recorded at your e-bank or as part of your last E-Bay transaction.
When is the last time you changed your password(s)?. Well then that is too long.
You do not have the ability to protect the information accessed by using your driver's license number or social security number. But you do have the ability to create unique password(s) frequently to access you company or personal data.
The most probable reason that we do not change them is our perception that the list of unique passwords will be so long that we will never be able to keep track of them. What good is a strong password if we can not remember it accurately or access it conveniently. Writing you password on the bottom of the keyboard does not count as being secure. You don't leave your front door key under the door mat!
I personally use an algorithm to track mine. I cannot claim this idea as being my own. But it is an idea that everyone who hears it considers implementing it.
This password algorithm is based on making your password from three components.
1) An easy to remember word e.g. your school mascot, street you grew up on, your first dogs name, your initials,your maiden name. I suggest that you select a word that is at least 3 characters and not more than 6 characters. For this example I will use my best friend's name, "bob"
2) Pick a two to four digit memorable number combination. When possible avoid using sequential and or repeating digits. If dates are your preference, avoid for example 1111. For my example I will use 0127 which is the my daughter's birthday
3) Finally make a standard mnemonic to represent the site that you are accessing, e.g. FNB for First National Bank; Microsoft might be MIC or MCR; or IRS for the Internal Revenue Service.
Now every month or quarter I change all of my passwords by using a new base word and or number with the same mnemonic.
For extra security I use all lower case letters for my base word and all upper case letters for the mnemonic or vice versa.
The passwords for Q1FY2010 might be bob0127FNB and bob0127MCR but for Q2FY2010 they would change to lmt1225FNB and lmt1225MCR
I hope this strategy makes the process of generating new passwords and remembering them easier and facilitates regular revisions.
Paul Roebuck, paul_roebuck@allied-is.com, www.allied-is.com Our company specializes in improving processes using AIDC and RFID integrated solutions.
Posted by Paul Roebuck on Wed, May 19, 2010 @ 12:10 PM
Over the recent years RFID has ridden a roller coaster wave of acceptance analogous to a radio wave with a slow rise to the tops and extended bottoms. Consumer recognition for this technology came with edicts from the Wal-Mart and DOD establishing standards for mandatory implementation on incoming products initially from all suppliers.
Only in the last few years have the commercial early adopters been successful to use RFID in closed loop projects.
New applications in healthcare vary and are not limited to some of the following:
Various applications of asset tracking:
- Tracking mission critical assets to assure location, calibration, maintenance and utilization.
- Emergency vehicles tracking that all necessary and assigned assets, e.g. defibrillator, back boards, stretcher, two way radio, hand held computer, oxygen tank, protocol manuals and logs, are in place and in specification.
- Emergency vehicles tracking consumption of medical supplies during a shift to radio back to headquarters for immediate and complete restocking prior to the next shift.
- Pharmacies tracking distribution and accurate utilization of medicines from the shelf to the patient with assurance of administration of the right drug, at the right time to the right patient in the right dosage.
It "depends" upon your perspective as to the value of this latest application of RFID.
An Australian firm, Simavita, has introduced and tested RFID under garments in 20 plus Australian Elder Care Centers. These electronic undergarments get to the bottom of a situation that affects quality of care, dignity, as well as efficient utilization of senior care personnel and reduces care management costs.
Simavita's Smart Incontinence Management System (SIMsystem) utilizes a customized continence pad worn by aged-care residents. The under garment is embedded with wireless ZigBee-based moisture-detecting sensors.
The solution, under first consideration, would seem to be expensive and difficult to implement and sustain. After testing in twenty centers, the Australian Government is supporting a roll out to another 200 sites.
Their studies indicate that 80% of the residents at Elder Care Facilities are affected by incontinence. Simavita's trial data indicated that their SIMSystem saved up to $2000 in labor costs per bed, per annum.
Their system offers significant benefits for the elderly and caregivers alike:
- Patient:
- Less unnecessary investigations
- Improved quality of life and dignity
- Better personalized care
- Employees
- Fewer false occurrences
- Less documentation
- Fewer health and safety risks to the patient and care givers from handling the patient
- More time available to direct care to the seniors
- Elder Care Facility Management
- Reduced labor costs
- Improved staff productivity
- Reduced laundry cost
- Lower pad consumption
- Evidence of compliance for accreditation and reimbursement
Given the positive outcomes the SIMsystem solution will be going global soon. Allied Integrated Services, http://www.allied-is.com/, is pursing the opportunity to be a US licensee.
Reference the complete article at http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/7558/3 .
Paul Roebuck, paul_roebuck@allied-is.com , is the general manager of Allied Integrated Services. AIS is an AIDC and RFID process improvement and solution provider that focuses on the Healthcare and Elder Care markets.