Your passwords are the key to your digital life. If they fall into the wrong hands, hackers can gain access to all of your personal information, including passwords, bank account numbers, and social media accounts. This can lead to identity theft and a host of other problems.
1. Don’t use the same passwords for multiple accounts.
If you use the same passwords for multiple accounts, a hacker only has to guess your password once to gain access to all of your accounts. By using unique passwords for each account, you make it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to your information.
2. Use a password manager to help create and store passwords.
In addition, using the same passwords makes it difficult for you to keep track of all your passwords. A password manager can help you keep track of all your passwords, and is a much more secure way to store your passwords than keeping them written down or stored in an email account.
3. Make passwords at least 8 characters long.
You should make passwords at least 8 characters long because longer passwords are more difficult to crack. A hacker will have a harder time guessing complex passwords that are 8 or more characters long. Additionally, using a password manager can help you create and store passwords that are 8 or more characters long.
4. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in passwords.
passwords that contain a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols are more difficult to crack than passwords that only contain letters or passwords that only contain numbers. Including a variety of characters in your passwords makes them more complex and less likely to be guessed by a hacker. Additionally, using a password manager can help you create passwords that are more complex and include a variety of characters.
5. Avoid using easily guessed words or phrases as passwords.
Passwords that are easily guessed, such as your name, your address, or your birthday, are not as secure as passwords that are more complex and difficult to guess. A hacker who knows these pieces of information may be able to guess your password and gain access to your account. Additionally, using a password manager can help you create passwords that are less likely to be guessed by a hacker.
6. Change passwords regularly.
Changing passwords regularly helps keep hackers from being able to guess your passwords using brute force methods. A hacker who is trying to break into your account will typically try logging in with common passwords first. If they are unsuccessful, they will then start trying different combinations of letters and numbers until they find the right password. By changing your passwords often, you make it more difficult for a hacker to guess them using these methods.
7. Don’t share passwords with others.
Sharing passwords with others is not a smart thing to do because it increases the risk of your information being compromised. If someone else has access to your passwords, they can log in to your accounts and access your information without your permission.
8. Avoid storing passwords in clear text on devices or online.
There are a few reasons why you should not write down your passwords in clear text. First, if someone else gets their hands on your passwords, they can log in to your accounts and access your information without your permission. Additionally, if your passwords are stored in clear text on a device or online, they may be vulnerable to hackers who can steal them. By keeping passwords hidden and protected, you can help keep your information safe and secure.
9. Use two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that can be used to protect your accounts from hackers. It requires you to provide two pieces of information in order to log in, such as a password and a code that is sent to your phone. This makes it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to your account, even if they know your login information. Additionally, many websites and online services offer two-factor authentication as an additional security measure. You should enable two-factor authentication on all of your accounts whenever possible.
10. If you suspect that your password has been compromised, change it immediately.
If you suspect that your password has been compromised, you should change it immediately. A hacked password can provide a hacker with access to your personal information and accounts, so it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. By changing your passwords regularly and using strong passwords, you can help keep your information safe and secure.
About Password Managers
You may have noticed that we referred to password managers several times throughout this article. If you’re not familiar, a password manager is a cloud-based or local software solution that helps manage your passwords. Some are free while others come at a cost, so the choice is up to you.
There are a number of free password managers available online, and many of them offer features that can help keep your passwords safe and secure. Some of the most popular password managers include LastPass, 1Password, and KeePass.
LastPass is a popular online password manager that is free for personal use. It allows you to store passwords for different websites in one place, and it also offers two-factor authentication to help keep your information safe.
1Password is another popular password manager that offers a free trial version for personal use but is not free after the trial period. It allows you to store passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive information in one place. It also offers two-factor authentication and a variety of other features.
KeePass is a free, open-source password manager that you can download and use on your local computer. It allows you to store passwords for different websites in one place, and it also offers a variety of other features.
2FA or Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security that can be used to protect your accounts from hackers. It requires you to provide two pieces of information in order to log in, such as a password and a code that is sent to your phone. This makes it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to your account, even if they know your login information. Additionally, many websites and online services offer two-factor authentication as an additional security measure. You should enable two-factor authentication on all of your accounts whenever possible.
There are a number of different tools that you can use for two-factor authentication. Some of the most popular include:
• SMS codes: SMS codes are text messages that are sent to your phone and contain a code that you need to enter in order to log in. Although SMS may sound secure, it is not as fool-proof as using an authenticator.
• Google Authenticator: Google Authenticator is a free app for Android and iOS that generates codes for two-factor authentication. Although the app does work, we found that it lacked a proper backup option. This can be problematic if your phone gets stolen and you need to use the authentication codes.
• Authy: Authy is a free app for Android and iOS that allows you to store passwords and other sensitive information in one place. It also offers two-factor authentication. Our recommendation goes to Authy for 2FA storage as it has a proper way to backup your 2FA codes and use it over multiple devices.
Public Wifi and why to avoid it
And to stay on the topic of security, never use a public wifi network on your phone unless you have secured it with a VPN. Also, be sure to pay attention to any warnings your phone may give.
Public Wi-Fi networks are Networks that can be accessed by anyone who is in the area. This means that hackers can use these networks to try to steal your personal information.
One way that hackers can try to steal your information is by setting up a fake Wi-Fi network with a similar name to the real one. When you try to connect to the fake Wi-Fi network, the hacker can see all of the information that you send and receive. This includes passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information.
Hackers can also use public Wi-Fi networks to hack into your devices. By using special software, they can see all of the information that is being sent and received by your device. This includes passwords and other sensitive data.
To protect yourself from hackers when using public Wi-Fi networks, be sure to use a VPN. A VPN encrypts all of the data that is sent and received by your device, making it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to your information. You should also be sure to pay attention to any warnings your phone may give like warning about SSL/TLS certificates which are missing or not correct; this is a clear sign of big problems when you see them using a public wifi network.
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If you have the choice, we recommend ditching free WiFi networks all together. Your mobile data provider is always the most secure option– especially if you use a VPN with it.
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