Using Safe Passwords
May 3, 2024
Cybercriminals are always looking for opportunities to steal your information, and using simple passwords makes it easier for them to access your personal information. If you have trouble remembering passwords, you can download a password manager to store them for you. Many password manager programs help generate and store passwords and can even identify weak passwords and recommend stronger combinations.
Three of the most effective ways to make strong passwords include:
- Use at least 16 characters – Generally, the longer the password is, the harder it is to guess.
- Make them random – You can do this by using a collection of letters, numbers, and symbols or by creating a random phrase containing four to seven words.
- Have a different password for each account – It is much more difficult for cybercriminals to steal your information when each account has a different password.
Another way to protect your accounts is by enabling multifactor authentication (MFA). This provides an additional layer of security by requiring the user to take an extra step before logging into an account – usually by entering a code sent through text or email. Cybercriminals are not able to access your account with only a password when MFA is put in place, as they would also need to access your texts or emails.