IS YOUR PASSWORD STRONG ENOUGH?
What makes a strong password?
Use at least 10-15 Capital and small letters, plus numbers, plus approved symbols ($!@, etc.): Do not use your social security, birthday, your family’s birthdays or special dates (marriage, divorce, new home purchase), or anything that can be publicly traced or has been shared online or social media. And minimize or refrain from using words that are found in any dictionary. It takes nano-seconds for a hacker to run through all the dictionaries in the world! However, if you must, and are combining abnormal password tokens (letters/numbers/symbols) with ONE word that is in the dictionary, it still may be considered a Strong Password.
Strong Example: HTm#3049$Ns#20q!
This may look daunting, but it is easy to remember (or something similar that makes sense to you!)
For example:
>> The first three letters could be the initials of your great-great-great-aunt. Use something that is not currently on Social Media, or in your digital profile;
>> The next four numbers could be the birth date of your first puppy, your great aunt’s 3rd husband’s military number, your first address as a child, the date your lost your virginity (most everyone remembers this and it is not normally something published!) or something that you remember, but can not be found online;
>> The next two letters could be your favorite sports team, initials of your favorite hair color, your pants size when you were 16, the last two digits of your first phone number, or your dorm room number in college, or something YOU KNOW, but that is not published anywhere;
>> The symbols and additional numbers or letters could be something generic, like adding a q, x, or z (rarely used letters) inside the other code, or more specific, like your gym locker number, work parking spot ID, secret employee ID, your bosses first wife’s shoe size, or something off-the-wall that is not published. However, since this particular password is published here, do not use it! ha….
Determine your own password that is easy for you to remember, with the combination of letters, digits, symbols that mean something to you, but cannot be guessed by a hacker who has collected your private data and researched your life online, since you are the target.
How often should you change your password?
Recommended time: Every 3-6 months is good. It is best practice to not keep the same password for more than 9 months. Come up with a unique way to create a new password.
Should I have a different password for each account?
Absolutely! If you get hacked, or the bank or credit card company is hacked, your password can be exposed. So, if you use the same password for every account, you are totally and completely exposed. There are ways to rearrange your password (not as safe as changing it completely) and then add some new digits or letters to change it up enough to be safe, but easy enough for you to remember. But, only if you change it regularly, so the hackers cannot figure out your method to the madness.
Another idea: You could add some letters that apply to each online account (a secret identifier) or numbers. like, the shoe sizes of everyone in your family:
Example: #12080201$sHooo!!siZZe OR… mix up the letters and symbols + letters. Example: 12$08#02!sHoo#siZZe. Notice the non-word representation for “shoe size”? Be creative!!
Also, you could write down your different passwords in a log or booklet and then hide in a safe place inside your home, just in case you forget. The chances of someone finding these passwords is very small, compared to the other digital options.
Why is a strong password so important?
You lock your front and back door. You usually lock a bathroom stall in a public restroom. And you latch your backyard gate… Right? So, why would you not make your financial and credit card accounts safe by “locking” down your password?
The stronger and more unique your password, the safer your accounts will be online.
