All posts by Tony Martignetti

Is Your Email Safe and Sound?

Information Security Wordle, courtesy of purpleslog on Flickr.

In early April, five companies I do business with informed me that my email address had been compromised by a company named Epsilon. Hilton, Marriott, 1-800-Flowers (thanks, mom) and two financial providers where I have amassed a combined balance approaching equivalence to my office area code, use the company for email marketing for their millions of addresses.

This Epsilon episode provokes me to ask you, “Is your email safe and sound?”

Whether you have hundreds, thousands or hundreds of thousands of addresses, they are a valuable asset. You need to keep them safe. I am not an email security expert, but Howard Globus, president of IT On Demand is. Here are Howard’s suggestions:

– Keep your computers and devices up to date – whether you use a Windows PC, an Apple computer, a Linux-flavored operating system or a smart phone, make sure that the software is up to date. New security holes are found, published and exploited every day, on ALL operating systems. Subscribe to your particular operating system’s alerts and apply updates regularly.

– Add a layer of protection between the public and private world – consider a firewall or security product to act as a buffer between your computer (or computers) and the Public Internet. A firewall, when properly monitored, kept up-to-date and sending regular alerts, will provide an early warning to potential security breaches.

– Your email password is not a luggage-lock. Your password for email (and on your computers and your firewall) should be more complex than “1234”. The most common password in use today is “123456”. Fourth on the list? “Password”. Without feeling too superior, ask yourself if you use a dictionary-based password, can your password be found in a dictionary? Or a dictionary word with a number? Jeremy12? Beach89? The more complex your password, the harder it is to crack. Consider using a password with a combination of alpha-numeric digits and an odd character thrown in. Need help coming up with a strong password? Take a look at this password generator. Remember to change your password periodically!

– Do not open attachments from unknown senders – Just like we were told when we were kids, talking to strangers may be bad. If you get an email from the USPS, UPS, Amazon or your bank with phrases like “There is a package we tried to deliver to you. Please see the attached document on how to claim your package”, pause. Services like PayPal, your credit card company or your bank will NEVER ask you to launch an attachment to put your information in. When in doubt, log on to the service through your web browser directly–not through the email attachment or link–and investigate the authenticity of the request sent.

– Don’t share your user account or password via email. Following up on the last tip, do not email your account or password in response to an email request. The vendors or institutions you are working with don’t need it – they know who you are – and they don’t want your password, as it may breach their internal security policy.

I’m guilty of at least one of these transgressions.  I will mend my ways.

Nonprofit Radio for May 6, 2011: A Conversation with Craig Newmark: craigconnects for Nonprofits

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

You can subscribe on iTunes and listen anytime, anyplace on the device of your choice.

Tony’s Guests:

Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist has created craigconnects.org.

Craig and I will talk about craigconnects; its seven areas of support; and what keeps Craig up at night.

Good news! We’ll take questions for this show. Please make sure your questions are about his work with craigconnects and nonprofits. The best place to ask is on the show’s Facebook page.

(Craig doesn’t answer questions about CraigsList and we won’t read those on the show. Send questions about Craigslist here.)


Cathleen Rittereiser, co-author, “Foundation and Endowment Investing”.

Everlasting Endowment: Techniques to keep your endowment safe and invested right; Your CFO and board should listen


 

Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation. 

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

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Here is a link to the podcast: 040: A Conversation with Craig Newmark.
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Nonprofit Radio for April 29, 2011: Planned Giving Fundraising & A Gift Planning Conference

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

You can subscribe on iTunes and listen anytime, anyplace on the device of your choice.

Tony’s Guests:
Richard Slutzky, co-author of Thriving in the Comet’s Tail, explains his ideas for fundraising as the U.S. emerges from recession. His insights apply to your long-term and immediate fundraising work. (If you’d like to buy the book contact WordsMaplewood. Call of email the store to buy the book.)

The “comet” in his title is our recession.

Putting aside economists’ definitions, do you believe we’re in the tail end of the U.S. recession?

  • a) Yes, the end is in sight, within 3-9 months
  • b) No, we’ve got at least another year
  • c) I really don’t know when the end will come

John Bacon and Alex Brovey are officers of the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY).

They’re coming to talk about the group’s May conference, the New York Philanthropic Planning Symposium. This is the PPGGNY’s premier annual event.

The event will:

  1. spotlight the nuts and bolts for new philanthropic planners
  2. illuminate the techniques and tools used by experienced planners
  3. focus a laser-sharp spotlight on those practical topics specifically requested by our members — subjects that have direct practical application to their work

Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show’s podcast on iTunes. Download and listen whenever and wherever you want.

Here is a link to the podcast: 039: Planned Giving Fundraising & A Gift Planning Conference.
View Full Transcript

Nonprofit Radio for April 22, 2011: A Conversation with Hildy Gottlieb

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

You can subscribe on iTunes and listen anytime, anyplace on the device of your choice.

Tony’s Guest:

A Conversation with Hildy Gottlieb:

Hildy Gottlieb is the author of “The Pollyanna Principles“.

She will share her transformative ideas for nonprofits to create monumental change in themselves, their communities and the world.

Listen in while she shares her ideas. This is going to be exciting.

Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show’s podcast on iTunes. Download and listen whenever and wherever you want.

Here is a link to the podcast: 038: A Conversation with Hildy Gottlieb.
View Full Transcript