Worried about the security of your Twitter password after the @AP hack? A New York-based Web developer has created a website to help you check.
"What a day, guys. I'm sure we're all worried about Twitter security, so I put together a site that should help," tweeted Alistair Coote from his @_alastair account yesterday.
Coote's site, http://www.ismytwitterpasswordsecure.com/, greets you with gigantic type asking "IS YOUR TWITTER PASSWORD SECURE?"
"It's a scary world right now, guys," the site states. "Your Twitter password can cause the Dow Jones to drop nearly 150 points and compel dozens of blogs to write breathless posts about the future of online journalism. You should be worried.
"In order to help everyone out a little, we've created an algorithm that will examine your password and tell you if it's secure enough."
Coote then duplicates the Twitter login box with fields labeled "Username or email" and "Password." [See also: 10 Tips for Staying Safe on Twitter ]
But if you type your own information, or indeed any characters at all, you'll see the point Coote is trying to make.
"NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO DON'T BE AN IDIOT," the page suddenly blares against a red background.
"Do you see 'twitter.com' in the address bar? No, you don't," Coote writes.
"Don't ever type your login and password to Twitter on a site that isn't twitter.com," Coote says. "Same with Facebook. And LinkedIn. I guess what I'm trying to say here is, don't be an idiot."
Coote is absolutely right. His site isn't just a joke — it provides an important lesson on the dangers of falling for phishing schemes and fake Web pages.
Unfortunately, several anti-virus products have already blocked his site on the grounds that it might contain malicious software.
Coote didn't seem to have a problem with that.
"I'd be suspicious of me if I met me," he told TechNewsDaily via, of course, Twitter.
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