Your password is your first layer of protection against hackers. The strength of your passwords directly affects your online security. Make your passwords unique, 12-18 characters long, and keep them safe.
How to Make a Secure Password
Does Google Offer Password Advice?
Why Should Accounts Have Different Passwords?
What is the Best Way to Remember Passwords?
What is Two Factor Authentication?
Why is Online Protection Important?
How to Make a Secure Password
To make a secure password, combine two unlike words and substitute some letters for numbers and irregular symbols. Longer passwords are stronger than shorter passwords. A password should be at least 12 characters.
What is an Insecure Password?
Hackers know people change “a” to “@,” “s” to “$,” and “e” to “3.” Adding a punctuation mark at the end (for example, p@ssword!) does not make a password strong either. Password-cracking programs contain every sort of these mixed in every language.
Pro tip: Avoid using the most common passwords https://techcult.com/most-common-passwords/. Likewise, SplashData https://www.splashdata.com/ evaluates many leaked passwords and lists the 100 most common ones.
Making a password the name of a well-known person, place, or thing is easy to remember, but it makes it simple for hackers to guess.
Does Google Offer Password Advice?
Google offers a support article stating how to create a strong password & a more secure account https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32040. Passwords that contain the below information are considered insecure because they’re easy to solve.
You can find most of the below information from someone’s social media profiles.
- Pet names
- A remarkable date (for example, a wedding anniversary)
- You or your relative’s birthday
- The name of a relative, child, partner, or significant other
- Your birthplace or hometown
- Your favorite occasion or hobby (place, activity, or event)
- Your favorite sport or sports team
- The word “Password.”
Why Should Accounts Have Different Passwords?
Every account must have a unique password to minimize the damage of a security breach. If your accounts all use the same password, a hacker can access every single account you have after cracking the password for one account.
What is the Best Way to Remember Passwords?
People have many accounts, and no one is expected to remember all their passwords. A password manager safeguards all your passwords, encoded and secured. It can even create strong passwords for you and enter them into websites and applications.
Password managers are a safe-deposit box for all your online accounts.
The password you use for a password manager must be easy to remember but challenging for others to guess. This password unlocks the password manager, so it must be kept safe.
Recommended password managers are 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane, and RoboForm for security and ease of use. RoboForm also manages passwords for the programs on your computer.
Respectable password managers have taken an extra step to secure your data and information to guard it against cybercriminals.
A good password manager:
- Doesn’t know your master password (so hackers can never take it)
- Encrypts all your data
- Does not store any of your information on their servers
- Can create a robust, secure password
Can Password Managers be Trusted?
No technology can offer complete security, but a password manager is undeniably more secure than using the same password for every account. Some password managers will keep your passwords hidden behind several passwords, adding an extra layer of security.
What is Two Factor Authentication?
Two-factor authentication (also known as two-factor validation and multifaceted confirmation) asks for more information to confirm you are the person accessing an account. After typing in your username and password, two-factor authentications will send a four- or six-digit code to your email or mobile phone.
You must enter the code within a stated time limit to access the account. If you use a different password for your email, two-factor validation keeps your account safe should someone crack the account’s password.
Why is Online Protection Important?
Cybercriminals continue to find new ways to crack passwords and hack systems. You must stay informed about their new schemes to protect against hackers (link to Tips to Protect Yourself From Hackers). It’s imperative to implement cybersecurity measures into your network and update your devices’ operating systems.
Clayton Biewer is a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist (CITRMS). BAA Solutions https://baa-solutions.com/ can teach you how to protect your online identity and what cybersecurity services https://baa-solutions.com/services/ are best for you and your business.
Call (409) 210-1115 or contact https://baa-solutions.com/contact/ BAA Solutions for your free consultation today!
