Ad Blockers, Password Managers and More

The Internet has brought the world to our classroom. The bad news is that a lot of the accompanying ads are annoying or unsafe.

Passwords are leaked all the time. Using the same password everywhere is no longer safe.

The good news is that there are free browser plugins that can help these problems and more.

Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus blocks most/all of the ads when you view web pages and YouTube videos.

This is especially good in a class setting where there are already plenty of distractions. Blocking ads has the additional benefit of blocking a major path for viruses, malware and other web nasties.

Adblock will allow some vetted non-intrusive ads thru in order to support websites. It's free to use, can be added to most major browsers, and is open source.

Used and highly recommended by our webmaster.

Why you need a password manager

This video from Violet Blue and Engadget explains why you need a password manager, how to set one up, and best practices.

Two notes on the video:

While Bitwarden is a free password manager, it has been review and vetted by multiple security experts and is safe to use.

Most security experts feel you no longer need to change passwords every 3 months, as long as you are using long and complex passwords like bCeb9h@NRy!sbnf7 and use different passwords for each web site.

YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFzuG3dt4w

Bitwarden Password Manager

Bitwarden is a free to use, open source password manager.

Unlike most password managers, Bitwarden's free version includes syncing your passwords between all your devices (Windows, Linux, iPhone & Android) with no limits, and supports optional two factor logins. Like most password managers, you can store an unlimited number of items in your vault (logins, notes, cards, & identities) and it will easily generate secure passwords for you.

If you feel like supporting the project, Bitwarden has very low cost Pro and Family plans. Their Team and Enterprise offerings that can help you secure your entire school or school district.

Used and highly recommended by our webmaster.

How To Easily Manage Your Passwords with Bitwarden

Arthur Dominguez shows that it's not as tough as most people think to create and manage those unique passwords for every service online. And with Bitwarden, you can manage your passwords for free. This video shows you how to set up a Bitwarden account and how to use it on your browser and cell phone.

YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh7FtqCK5Z0

Password Strength Test

Want to know how secure your password is? Type it in here. All testing is done within your browser; your passwords remain secure.

For a master password, you'll want to use something that is rated Very Secure ("... as secure as Fort Knox. ").

Zoom Image

This add on lets you enlarge images just by right clicking on them and rotating your mouse wheel. It also allows you to rotate images and drag them out of the way on a page.

A very convenient feature to have in your toolbox.

To Google Translate

To Google Translate is a fast and handy tool, making Google Translate easily accessible for everyday use. Select a word or text in your browser, right-click and select the To Google Translate option to translate or listen to the text. Simple to use. Look for this or similar translator add-ons for your web browser.

Great for ESL students and researchers of all ages.

larger image of https://monitor.firefox.com/

Firefox Monitor

What to know if your data has been part of an online data breach? Type in your email address here to find out.

Firefox Monitor is an online service developed by Mozilla, the organization behind the Firefox browser. It uses data from the more detailed Have I been Pwned? but re-formats it into an easier to read format.

How widespread is the data breach problem? Our webmaster's main email address has been the victim of 5 data breaches, 3 of which have have included the password.

YouTube High Definition

This is another Firefox add-on worth checking out. It allows you to fine tune how YouTube videos are displayed and played, with options to always (or never) use HD (High Definition), turn off annotations, change video player size, turn off auto-play, set video volume, control embedded videos and more.

Look for equivalent add-ons for Chrome and other browsers. Worth checking out.