Passwords are often underestimated when you are not working in IT. If you are online often, you have likely subscribed to various online platforms. Regardless of whether it is a cloud solution, a notes app or Facebook, you have to choose a password for each platform. The multitude of apps and online platforms available makes it difficult to manage each password appropriately. The truth is, you always need a password to keep your data secure. Even if it acts as a backup for your fingerprint lock on your iPhone. The problem is we tend to use so many services and platforms that we don't spend enough time creating strong passwords.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a
Password
Choosing a password can be tricky - if it's too simple, it's
easy to guess. If you make it too difficult, you will likely reset your
password more often than you'd like. The most common mistake is choosing a
simple password. Examples of passwords that are too simple that are still
used are:
- abcd1234
- password
- 12345678
- qwerty
As you can see, these examples can be guessed by a hacker in
seconds - even faster if you use a password hacking program, which is often the
case. Some patterns just aren't enough. One uppercase
letter and five lowercase letters plus digits are the second most common method. This
method is quite helpful, but still not secure enough. We often choose
topics that are close to us that in some way create a pattern. For
example, dates, names of loved ones, etc. This is either information that
someone who knows you can guess or information that you have online in your
public social media profiles.
How Do You Create a
Secure Password?
1. Long Passwords
Creating a 12-digit password is
a good place to start. When we talk about hackers, we're not talking about
a man in a dark room behind a computer who types in lots of passwords and tries
to log into your account. Instead, they use a program that automatically
traverses large databases of shared passwords and random combinations. If
your password contains a long string of words, it will be more difficult for
the program to guess your password. A combination of several words, if
allowed, will definitely make your password more secure.
2. Has Numbers, Symbols, Uppercase and Lowercase Letters
Add all of these four
components to your password and it will be difficult for any program to guess. Adding
numbers and symbols increase the complexity of the password, which in turn
makes it difficult to access your password.
3. No Obvious Substitutions or Common Phrases
It goes without saying that
using the number 0 (number) instead of an O (letter) or a capital letter T
instead of a t's is not enough if you don't combine it with symbols and
numbers. Programs are smart enough to try different combinations of shared
passwords, see an example:
- password
- password
- password
- Password
Try our tips on this page and
see how safe this approach is. Please do not try any of your actual
passwords.
Do Not Save Passwords in
The Browser
Different work environments
have different rules. If you are constantly dealing with sensitive
information and have to use multiple passwords online, storing your passwords
in the browser is not a good idea. We tend to save passwords for
(seemingly) harmless platforms like Facebook, Twitter on our home PC. Even
if someone breaks into your home, the consequences could be your account being
deleted, something being said publicly offensive, and so on. Accessing
company data through your browser can create further problems and have serious
consequences. The problem here is that we end up juggling so many
passwords that we start clicking 'Yes' when our favorite browser asks: "
Use a Password Manager
No matter how careful you are, you will end up choosing a
password that is not as secure as you would like it to be. We have so many
tools in our hands these days that if you compile a list of the apps you use
that you need to sign in to, the total number of apps that you will most likely
be amazed at. Hence, using a password manager could be the perfect
solution for you. A password manager securely stores your passwords - you
store information in the cloud or on your computer. The application allows
you to use random combinations in all passwords, making life difficult for
malicious users or bots. An added benefit of password managers is that
they protect you from accidentally sharing private information. For
example, you can manage who has access to shared passwords and change or reset
them on all devices. There are some popular password managers to choose
from, such as 1Password, Bitwarden, Last pass, Dashlane
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is becoming more and more common. Cloud
services, consoles, client management systems, and WordPress are just a few
platforms that offer two-factor authentication. If you enable this, you
will make it more difficult for hackers to crack your password. Two-factor
authentication forces you to go through a second verification step when you log
in. Usually, you have to confirm your registration with a smartphone
security app, an SMS, or an email. Of course, this does not prevent a
program from attempting to log into your account using a trial and error
method. With two-step authentication, the platform sends a code either via
SMS, an app, or email after logging in. Adding a mandatory second
verification step will make your online logins more secure. However, one
should be aware that passwords are always subject to hacking attempts and can
be misused. If you write your password on a piece of paper and then lose
it, there is also the possibility that the piece of paper could fall into the
wrong hands. However, by using a password manager and two-step authentication,
the chances of hacking or misusing your password are greatly reduced.
Install Protegent Free Antivirus to secure your data.
Comments
Post a Comment