We all have a lot of sensitive information stored on the online accounts that we wish to keep safe. The majority of it, though, is protected by relatively weak passwords. Therefore, creating a secure password is critical for online security, and you should use a different one for each of your social media accounts, bank accounts, streaming services, and applications. However, as we all know, there is a narrow line between picking a password that no one else can guess and one that is easy for you to remember.
To keep your online accounts secure, use passwords that are difficult to guess. However, with so many password requirements, it might be challenging to come up with safe and easy-to-remember passwords. In this guide, we’ll give you tips on keeping your password safe and secure.
1. Use A Password Manager
Hackers have a much harder time breaking into systems and cracking them when passwords are strong. Strong passwords are more than eight characters long and contain capital and lowercase letters, digits, and symbols. The issue with strong or complicated passwords is that they are difficult to remember. People frequently forget such passwords, and changing them and creating new ones may be incredibly exhausting and time-consuming.
According to ExpressVPN’s survey, it takes the average person 3 minutes and 46 seconds to reset a password when they forget it. Instead of wasting time resetting the password, you can use a password manager to make and remember different, complex passwords for each account. Today, this is the most effective measure that an individual can take to protect their personal information.
Forgetting passwords has become a common part of cybersecurity, but it’s interesting to see just how often it happens throughout the year because we quite often forget move on as soon as it’s been reset. For example, 37% of Americans surveyed take over four minutes to reset a password with 21% admitting it happens at least once per week – the time certainly adds up!
2. Implement Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is an intelligent approach to protect your passwords because it makes it much harder for hackers to get into your accounts. However, entering your credentials (username and password) isn’t enough to gain access to your accounts anymore; you’ll also need to pass an additional authentication step. This extra layer of protection secures your online accounts.
If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you will be asked to enter both your password and an authentication code obtained from either a mobile authenticator app or a code delivered to your phone through text message.
3. Use Biometric if Available
Biometric authentication provides additional protection and removes the need for passwords entirely. In addition, it is easier to use, offers more privacy and security, and is more supported by the devices (both mobile and desktop) through which they access the internet.
Biometrics are also very trustworthy and hard to fake or copy because we can’t lose or forget our unique characteristics like we can with a user ID and password combination. Typical examples of biometric recognition on phones and desktops include fingerprint, voice, and facial.
4. Create Unique Passwords and Update Your Passwords Regularly
To generate or store passwords, we recommend using password managers. Still, if you want to create your password, be sure it is strong. Strong passwords are typically those with at least 12 to 20 characters. You can add additional characters based on your preferences. If feasible, use a combination of symbols, numerals, capital letters, and lowercase characters.
To ensure security with a strong password, you must change it every few weeks or months. The more important your data is, the more frequently you should update your password. After you’ve changed it, don’t use that password for a long time.
5. Use Different Passwords for Different Accounts
Many people reuse their login and password across many accounts. This is because they believe accessing their accounts will be easier and faster. However, it’s not recommended, and you must use unique passwords for each online account. As a result, even if someone cracks one of your passwords, they will only be able to access a single account rather than all of them.
Reusing passwords across accounts makes them all less secure. For example, if you use the same password for your bank and your gaming app, a data breach at your gaming app could put your bank account at risk.
6. Avoid autosave
Most online browsers have built-in password management, encouraging you to remember passwords for sites you browse. This approach, however, is not recommended. Your credentials are visible to anybody with physical access to any device you logged in using a browser. We advise using a third-party password manager rather than the browser’s built-in password manager.
Wrapping Up:
Being proactive when it comes to password security is your most excellent defense. It is critical to keep your credentials secure. Passwords are the entry point to your personal information, user accounts, and sensitive data. By following the quick tips in this article, you may protect your online identity and surf with confidence, knowing your passwords are secure.
