Online profiles are a part of our daily lives. From our office essentials like email and Microsoft applications to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, every program or app requires login details, and each demands a password.
It can be challenging to keep track and avoid traps like defaulting to using easy-to-crack passwords (123456, Password, etc.). Many password-fatigued users start re-using passwords to help them have fewer to remember, but that can be dangerous too. If someone gets hold of one of your passwords, they can access multiple accounts.
Start with strong password basics
Often, passwords must have an uppercase letter, lowercase letters, a symbol and a number. Some sites want all of the above, plus require that the letter combinations never make up an English word.
So, how do they expect you to remember all that? Should you log in using Gmail and Facebook to make your lives easier? Well, using your Gmail or social media logins comes with its own security risks. You are permitting these sites to view who you engage with, giving them the power to decide what the algorithm feeds you.
And these big corporates aren’t immune to being hacked either, which puts your information at even greater risk. It’s better to have a unique password for every account you use.
5 smart password strategies
- Secure your business
Your business passwords are the keys to your enterprise security. It only takes a single weak link to compromise your treasure trove of information. This is why it is critically important to prioritise cybersecurity awareness training for employees – creating a culture of mutual responsibility. - Make it long and strong
Comparing a 7-letter password against a 12-letter one, BetterBuys shows that the shorter password can be cracked within seconds, while the longer password would take around 200 years to guess. - Mix it up
Create a password using a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols that have something to do with the site – this should help you use word association to remember which password grants access to which website. - Keep them guessing
We live our lives online, and even the most basic social media stalker can figure out our pet’s name, where we work, dates of birth and our favourite band. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the problem with using publicly available information as a password. So, choose something out of the ordinary. - Activate two-factor authentication
This is a vital and proactive approach to guard against potential breaches. You should also enlist the help of a secure password manager like 1Password or LastPass to keep your personal and business login details safe.
Numata can help you check if your details have been compromised and get you set up with a password management system to keep your personal and business information secure. Get in touch today to find out more.
