Are YOU still using that same password you created way back in day?
Pets Name? Kids’ names? Birthdates? Anniversaries? The word 'password'?
Today those tactics no longer work. With data breaches at an
all time high, we need to protect ourselves more than ever! Just a few small
things can drastically help protect all your important online accounts. Here is
a few you can try!
Create Robust Passwords: Make it
difficult for Hackers to guess. Make your passwords contain at least 10
characters, have BOTH a capital and lower-case letter, and one or more
symbols/numbers. (i.e., !@#$%^&*() 123456789). Use a “pass-phrase” instead
of a password to make it longer and more memorable to you but even harder to
guess.
Use Different Passwords: Make sure to use a different
password for every account you have. If you use the same password for your
personal e-mail, work e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, bank account, etc., and just
one of those sites were to be compromised, the attacker would then have the “Golden
Key” to all of your accounts. Do not make it that easy for them!
Always
opt for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): It is very important to make our data as
secure as we can. Having a second layer
of security in place to protect us is never a bad thing! That way, even if your
password is obtained by a bad actor, they still won’t have access to those
accounts protected by a 2nd factor.
Most companies now offer MFA or 2FA when you sign up for their services.
When available always OPT IN! If you already have an account that is not
protected by these, check back every so often. More and more companies are enabling
these features.
Change your password every few weeks: The reason for
changing your password on a regular basis is to protect you and your data from
ongoing password attacks. With today’s hacking tools, guessing a simple
password (a name, word, or common pattern) trivially easy. But even a good
password can be guessed eventually, but it does take time. Also, when hackers compromise an account,
they may not always act right then and there, some continue to silently watch
for as long as the password remains the same. When you change your password
regularly it does not allow the hackers much time to act.
Do NOT Tell Anyone Your Password: Your Passwords are Personal and
Non-transferable. Do not give anyone the “Golden Key” to your
information. Protect it like you would a safety deposit key!
May 6 is World Password day. We will post information and
helpful tips all week, so watch for more information!
