Happy World Password Day!
Looking for a way to celebrate (now that you know it’s a holiday?!)? We can help!
Longer is stronger.
A strong password is your first line of defense against scammers. Keeper Security recommends passwords be at least 16 characters long with a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Why?
“According to security.org, passwords that are 6 characters or less can instantly be cracked, regardless of whether they include uppercase letters, numbers or special characters. However, a password that is at least 16 characters long can take 34,000 years to crack – even longer if it includes uppercase letters, numbers and special characters.” – Tim Tran, Keeper Security
Be Unique!
Normally, we’d advocate for the “reduce, reuse, recycle” model – but not when it comes to passwords. Every account should have a unique password (and not just your cat’s name + 2, or 3, or 4…). You see, if you use the same password for multiple accounts, it makes it that much easier for a hacker to access multiple accounts if your password is leaked. In 2020, 60% of recycled passwords appeared in multiple data leaks – exposing the owners of those passwords to more potential harm than if they had used unique passwords for each account.
Having trouble creating new passwords? Consider a passphrase – a longer string of characters that creates a phrase. A few tips:
- Avoid including personal information in your passphrase.
- Avoid popular phrases.
- Don’t use words that directly correlate.
Personal information (like a child or pet’s name), popular phrases (like song lyrics) or words that correlate with one another can make your passphrase easier for a hacker to guess.
Use a Password Manager.
This is a far better option than a notebook by your computer or a file containing all your passwords. Using a password manager offers several benefits that enhance your online security and convenience:
- Strong, Unique Password Generation: A password manager can generate complex passwords for you, ensuring that each of your accounts has a unique and strong password that’s difficult to crack.
- One Master Password: Instead of remembering dozens of passwords, you only need to remember one master password to access all your stored login information1.
- Auto-Fill and Auto-Login: Password managers can auto-fill your login details on websites and apps, saving you time and hassle.
- Secure Storage: Your passwords are stored in an encrypted format, providing a much safer alternative to writing them down or trying to memorize them.
- Convenience: With a password manager, you can easily access your passwords across different devices and browsers.
- Identity Protection: By using strong, unique passwords for each account, you reduce the risk of identity theft and unauthorized access to your accounts.
- Password Recovery: If you forget a password, you can easily retrieve it from your password manager’s secure vault.
- Sensitive Information: Many password managers also allow you to store other sensitive information securely, such as credit card numbers and personal notes.
Overall, a password manager is a tool that can significantly improve your digital security while making it easier to manage your online accounts. Do your research, there are free password managers available as well as paid password managers. Consumer Reports and the National Cyber Security Alliance both give recommendations for password managers to explore.