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The new Google CheckOut Service

June 30, 2006

This new service (Google Checkout)just out yesterday is touted by Google as a faster, safer and more convenient way to shop online.

Instead of managing multiple online accounts and passwords, a shopper can now quickly and easily buy from stores across the web and track all orders and shipping in one place.

Even though Google assures that their fraud protection policy covers users against unauthorized purchases made through Google Checkout, I am not convinced that the security of one stop shopping will really appeal to many.

For starters the service uses the same Google account credentials that you use for email. While having a single location for all internet orders makes makes sense, Gmail (and other Google services) users will have to beef up their passwords and change them often. As opposed to form filling up your financial info in several websites, you will be doing so in just one,….one successful ‘crack’ at your password is enough to open up your financial world to thieves and fraudsters.

Your password must therefore be as strong as it possibly can be.

Here are some password tips:

Selecting a good password is an important part of password security. The key is to find a password that is easy for you to remember and hard for others to guess.

Your password must be easy to remember but tough for others to guess. To create a strong password follow this guidelines:

- Do not include your login name in your password at all.
- Use both uppercase and lowercase letters e.g. (KaNNaTVs).
- Include both letters and numbers e.g. ($1KaNNa36A%TVs). Note: Use of spaces is a good idea too.
- Avoid using your name, common names, birthdays and/or dictionary words. Most passwords can be ‘Brute Forced’ using a dictionary attack

The Google Checkout service is otherwise another great idea by Google as the company leads innovation on the internet. It will probably be very successful, but the jury is still out.

Good Luck!

P/S - The above mentioned password techniques should be adopted by every webmaster to protect their websites. Your control panel and FTP credentials must be made hard to guess…deliberately, for the password to your web server account is your first line of defense against malicious hackers.

Written by James Opiko · Filed Under E-Biz, Search Engines, Web-Dev-Design 

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