With data breaches on the rise, a strong password is a critical tool to protect yourself and your business. But what are some of the best ways to keep your password secure?
Cybercriminals spend a lot of time trying to crack passwords in order to illegally access accounts and personal information. Learn how to prevent these hackers from stealing your data by following these tips:
Avoid using personal information.
A password that incorporates personal information makes it easy for hackers to discover your account. For example, a password that includes your date of birth or pet’s name is a simple guess for any criminal who knows you or can find out about you online.
Using personal information also opens you up to hacking attacks that use brute force or dictionary attacks. A brute force attack goes through a set of letters, symbols, and numbers, while a dictionary attack uses a prearranged list of words that are likely to appear in a password. These types of attacks are quick and affordable for cybercriminals, which is why it’s important to create a secure password that isn’t tied to your personal information.
Another way a hacker can get your password is to access your computer or device. Many people don’t have a password manager or don’t keep their passwords on an encrypted drive. This allows bad actors to intercept your password, and then use it to impersonate you or to steal your money or information.
Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. Even if you create a strong password, it’s not as secure as it could be if it is reused on other accounts. Also, if one of your accounts is breached by a hacker, the other accounts will be vulnerable as well.
Use a long password.
When it comes to password security, length is key. Longer passwords are more secure than shorter ones because they are more difficult to crack. A good password should be at least 12 characters long and contain a combination of letters (both upper and lower case), numbers, and special symbols. It should also be a mixture of words and phrases that are both familiar to you and random. This will make your password more resistant to hacking tools that attempt to guess passwords by trying out combinations of letters, digits, and other symbols.
You may be tempted to use a short and simple password that is easy to remember, but this will leave you vulnerable. Hackers can use your password to log into your accounts and access your personal information. They can use that to impersonate you, steal your money, or harm your reputation.
Using the same password for multiple accounts is another common mistake that can leave you vulnerable. If your password is leaked because of a data breach, it can be used against you for any of the accounts that it is used on. Using a different password for each account will prevent this from happening. Dashlane monitors the dark web for passwords from data breaches and will notify you if one of your passwords is included in the leak.
Use an abbreviated phrase or saying.
Many users write their passwords down on paper or in sticky notes, which can easily get lost and fall into the hands of cybercriminals. This gives them immediate access to raw, unencrypted passwords. Similarly, web browsers that save passwords offer hackers easy access to your private information. Passwords also can end up for sale on the dark web after data breaches, allowing hackers to access your private information. Password managers like Dashlane can monitor the dark web for leaked passwords and alert you if one of yours is detected.
Use a password manager.
From online banking to dating apps, we create and use countless passwords, but keeping track of them can be difficult. And relying on a simple password or the same password across multiple accounts leaves you vulnerable to cybercrime like account takeovers and identity theft.
A password manager is an app or website that helps users generate and store strong, unique passwords for their different accounts. The program also saves other important information like PINs, credit card numbers and CVV codes, answers to security questions and more. Look for programs that are compatible across your devices, including laptops, mobile phones and tablets. Also make sure they offer a single sign-on capability, so you can quickly and securely access all your logins with just one master password.
Password managers should be easy to set up and use. The first time you log into the program, you’ll need to create a master password, which should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols. The password manager will then create a secure password vault to store all your other passwords, so you’ll be able to use them whenever you log in to a website or app.
Other important features to look for in password managers are autofill capabilities and the ability to securely share credentials with colleagues or friends. And many password managers also help you fight phishing scams by recognizing fake websites and providing a warning if you’ve been redirected to one.
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