With the risk of cyber threats and data breaches rising, safeguarding your personal accounts is more important than ever—and that starts with setting strong passwords.
Creating strong passwords is crucial for protecting your personal information and online accounts from unauthorized access. Today we’ll discuss the importance of setting strong passwords as well as provide you with 10 tips to help keep your accounts secure.
Passwords act as the barrier between hackers and your personal information. Without a secure barrier in place, those with malicious intentions may be able to access your online accounts, files, or identity. However, only half of internet users are familiar with the best practices of password security.
Having strong password security isn’t just a recommendation, it’s become a necessity in recent years. It can be tempting to use simple passwords, but weak password security can lead to financial losses, identity theft, and other serious consequences. Without secure passwords in place, cybercriminals may be able to gain access to the following:
Did you know that more than 80% of confirmed online breaches are related to stolen, reused, or weak passwords? However, many individuals still choose to rely on easy-to-remember passwords or use the same passwords for multiple accounts. By enhancing your password practices, you will reduce your vulnerability to cyber threats or account breaches.
Here are 10 ways to keep your accounts secure and create a strong password:
A strong password should include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This makes it more difficult for hackers to access through brute-force attacks.
Longer passwords are generally more secure and harder to guess for hackers. Aim for a minimum of 12 characters, but longer is even better.
Hackers often use dictionary attacks to crack passwords. Avoid using common words, phrases, or easily guessable combinations.
Reusing a single password across multiple accounts increases the risk of a security breach. Use different passwords for each account to prevent one compromised account from jeopardizing others. Using a password generator can help you generate strong passwords for each online account.
Passphrases are longer combinations of words or phrases that are easier for you to remember but harder for hackers to crack. Choose a memorable phrase and add complexity with variations in capitalization and special characters.
Don’t use easily accessible information like your name, birthdate, or common words associated with your life in your passwords. Hackers can easily guess these details using social engineering techniques.
Make it a habit to change your passwords periodically, especially for sensitive accounts like email, banking, and social media. This helps prevent unauthorized access, particularly if a service you use has been compromised.
Consider using a reputable password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely. Password managers can also help you manage multiple accounts without the need to remember multiple passwords. Using a password management system can help reduce password reuse and encourage the use of unique passwords.
Adding an extra-layer of online security with multifactor authentication significantly enhances your account’s protection. Even if someone manages to obtain your password, they would still need to gain access to a secondary authentication method, such as a code sent to your phone, to gain entry.
Some accounts offer security questions as a backup method for account recovery. Be cautious when choosing or answering security questions, as the answers could potentially be researched or guessed by attackers.
At Bank of the James, our goal is always to help our customers achieve a high level of financial literacy, and that includes learning how to set secure passwords. Interested in how else we can serve you? Contact us today or walk into any of our convenient branch locations to talk with our team about your banking and security questions.
