Around 83% of Americans use weak passwords, which puts them at risk of getting hacked.
Although it sounds harmless, not having a secure password makes it easier for cyber attackers to retrieve your sensitive data. Perhaps you’ve been a victim of hacking or you’re looking for ways to improve your online security.
Sounds familiar? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our password security tips to help you.
Create a Unique Password
If you want to create a secure password, then make it as unique as possible. Avoid standard words like “smallcat” and use symbols so it’s difficult to decipher. For instance, you could write “sm4llc4t1” instead.
Prioritize Length
Are you wondering “how secure is my password?”, then consider how long it is. As a general rule, the longer the password, then the harder it is to crack. Because of this, create a password that is over 10 digits and includes special characters.
Use a Two-Step Verification Method
Password and security go hand-in-hand, and there’s no better way to strengthen your data than with a two-step verification method. This is where you enter your regular password and the provider will send you a time-sensitive code to your smartphone. You’ll notice that this has become more popular, especially with banking sites and social media.
Try a Password Manager
Use a secure password manager to avoid any cyber attacks. Team password manager, for example, ensures that you don’t forget a complicated password. This means you can choose an array of difficult passwords, but you needn’t memorize them which gives you peace of mind.
Don’t Recycle Passwords
If you haven’t used password management yet, then avoid recycling your passwords. This is because it makes you more vulnerable to a cyberattack, should a hacker figure out one of your passwords.
Again, a password manager will handle this for you.
Keep It a Secret
Although it sounds obvious, you’ll be surprised at how open people are about sharing their passwords. Even if it’s with a coworker or loved one, avoid doing this as a preventative measure. You should also refrain from keeping a note of your password, whether it’s in your notebook or laptop.
Life without a smartphone is something beyond imagination for most of the people. Whether you need to buy stuff or operating lock systems, the use of smartphones is pretty much common. The best part of installing these locks is that you can operate them through Bluetooth or other modern wireless connectivity systems.
Reset Your Password
Another way to keep your data safe is knowing when to reset your passwords. Instead of changing it from “smallcat1” to “smallcat2”, take the time to create an entirely different password to prevent a cyberattack.
As a general rule, a 12-character password should be changed every six months. But if you’ve got an 8-character password, then change this every quarter. Don’t worry if you can’t keep track, most systems send out an automatic reminder so your data stays safe.
Enjoy Our Password Security Tips
Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll try out our password security tips.
Start by creating a unique password, regularly reset it, and use a password manager so you remember difficult ones. You should also keep yours a secret and avoid recycling passwords for security reasons. Good luck!
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