Most business leaders understand the importance of password security. In the era of data breaches and cyber attacks, it’s more important than ever to have strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts, especially your business accounts.
But with so many passwords to keep track of, it can be difficult to remember them all – let alone make them strong and unique. Here are 8 tips for creating strong passwords that are easier to remember:
- Use a password manager: A password manager is a software application that helps you generate and store strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts. Password managers typically include features like auto-fill and two-factor authentication, which make them more secure than using the same password for every account.
- Make your passwords long and complex: The longer and more complex your password is, the harder it will be for someone to guess or brute force their way into your account. A good rule of thumb is to create passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Avoid using personal information: Personal information like your birthdate, address, or mother’s maiden name can be easily guessed or found through public records. When creating a password, avoid using any personal information that could be used to guess your password.
- Use different passwords for different accounts: One of the best ways to make your passwords stronger is to use different passwords for different accounts. That way, if one of your passwords is compromised, the others will still be safe.
- Change your passwords regularly: Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to break into accounts, so it’s important to change your passwords on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is to change your passwords every three months.
- Use two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that requires you to enter a code from your phone or another device in addition to your password when logging into an account. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your accounts.
- Be aware of phishing scams: Phishing scams are attempts by hackers to trick you into giving them your password or other personal information by masquerading as a trusted website or email. Be on the lookout for red flags like misspellings and grammatical errors, and never enter your password into a website or email unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate.
- Keep your computer and browser up to date: Keeping your computer and browser up to date with the latest security patches is one of the best ways to protect yourself from hackers. Make sure you have anti-virus software installed, and set your browser to update automatically.
By following these eight tips, you can create strong, unique passwords that are more resistant to hackers. And by using a password manager, you can make the process of creating and remembering passwords much easier.