Complex Passwords
We know. You’ve come across this nugget of information before, but it really is critical when it comes to keeping your personal information secure.
It’s said that passwords using seven to nine ‘normal’ characters take between 0.29 milliseconds and 5 hours to crack, while nine characters can take up to five days.
The most common type of password include names that are meaningful to us, such as a partner, sibling or pet name. But all this information is easily found on the internet.
To prevent your passwords being easily guessed or hacked, follow these tips:
- Use passwords with more than 10 characters
- Use a combination of letters, numbers and special characters
- Tip 3
Multi-factor Authentication
This basically means you need to enter at least two pieces of evidence to prove who you are before being granted access.
This might be a combination of a password or PIN and something else only you would know or have. This might be a card or biometric identification, such as the fingerprint scanner on your phone.
More platforms and apps are offering this added layer of security, so it’s worth checking out.
Multiple Passwords
Stop using the same password for all of your accounts. Immediately.
If one account has been compromised, then so have all your other accounts.
Creating and remembering multiple complex passwords isn’t an easy feat, but it’s in your best interest. If you need to store them somewhere, make sure it’s an encrypted password keeper.
Changing Your Password
Changing your password regularly reduces the risk of your data being compromised. It also prevents constant access if an account has already been compromised or if keystroke logger technology has been used.
It is recommended you change your passwords every 60-90 days, prioritising the accounts that contain very sensitive data, such as online banking.
‘Save Password’ Options
We know this feature is extremely convenient, but it’s not a difficult task for those in the know to locate your saved passwords in your browser.
Avoid ‘save password’ options where possible.