As people subscribe to more online services like social media and such, a lot of personal information is held online. Now more than ever, passwords are integral in keeping that information safe because of the threats and risks that are associated with data leaks and malicious cyber attacks. See these tips from the best Orlando IT support team to keep your password secure.
Tips on Keeping Your Password Secure
Since passwords remain a primary source of security and protection for the personal information of many people around the world, here are some tips to help keep your password secure.
Longer Passwords
Creating longer passwords is one way of making a password more secure. Most websites even require a minimum character count for passwords (i.e., websites usually require a password at least 8 characters long). The reason for this is that longer passwords are basically more difficult to crack, especially when it comes to cracking passwords through brute strength.
Longer passwords mean more combinations of random characters, making the password inherently stronger.
No Personal Information
One thing many people tend to do is create a password that is associated with their personal information such as birthdays, nicknames, and such. Understandably, people do this to make their passwords memorable for them. However, this is such a common trick, making it easy to use your personal information as a way to break through your passwords.
As much as possible, it would be best to use words that are not associated with you at all.
No Real Words
Real words are another tactic that people commonly use to help them remember their passwords. Understandably, a password that consists of an actual word is way easier to remember than a string of random letters and numerals.
However, it would be even better to create passwords out of a random string. If you have ever tried a password generator, this is the type of password that it would suggest. Not only should you create a random string of numbers and letters, but remember to throw in some symbols as well.
The use of a variety of characters helps strengthen passwords. Some websites even require a mix of a minimum of three different characters including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Use Different Passwords
A common mistake is to use a single password for every online account you have. It is essentially putting all your eggs in one basket. No matter how strong your single password is, it will always be dangerous to use it in every single account. It’s like having one key to all the doors in your home.
Having one password in all accounts makes it easier for hackers because all they need to know is one password to access all your other accounts.
Change Passwords Regularly
When was your password last changed? If you haven’t changed your password since you first created your account, then it’s probably time for a change.
It’s best to even change your passwords every quarter, especially when those passwords are protecting very sensitive accounts such as online bank accounts and other accounts that may be connected to your credit card such as online shopping accounts.
Use a Password Manager
If you are terrible at making strong passwords and remembering them, then consider using a password manager. Password managers are specialized software that holds all your passwords, automatically signs you into online accounts, and even suggests new passwords for when you are creating new accounts.
If you don’t want to use their suggested passwords, they usually come with the ability to evaluate whether your password is strong or not.
Conclusion
Complicated passwords might be difficult to remember but they’ll protect you more than you realize. Having an easy password will risk your personal information to people with possibly malicious intentions such as identity theft. Follow these tips to make your passwords a little stronger and make your data a little safer.