Keeping Your Passwords Safe

06 Jan Keeping Your Passwords Safe

With the increase in cyber-attacks on businesses, it is important to ensure your passwords are protected to the best of your ability.

If you are unable to use MFA/2FA, some password security suggestions we recommend are:

  1. Create a tiered-structure of account passwords. Use one type of password complexity for financial institutions, another for work, another for rewards programs, etc. This will ensure that if one level of password complexity is compromised, the others are not!
  2. Try to make passwords at least 15 characters long. Consider making it a simple sentence you can remember. Hackers with the use of modern technology can crack short complex passwords quickly. An example could be “I like going to baseball games!” Easy to remember, but long enough to prevent hackers from quickly cracking your password.
  3. Don’t use passwords that are easy to figure out. Most hackers will scan your social accounts to find out your date of birth, anniversary date and even your maiden name. It’s all out there for most people to see!
  4. If you are using short passwords, don’t use real words. “Dictionary attacks” are still included in a hacker’s arsenal. Mix up your passwords with numbers, letters, and symbols.
  5. “Recycling” your passwords is a hacker’s first attack. Don’t use sequences when changing passwords. Examples are Summer1, Summer2, Summer3, etc.
  6. Combine letters (including uppercase letters), numbers, and symbols.
  7. If ever in doubt, change your password immediately. Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out you’ve been compromised. Ten minutes can save you time and money.

These Password Security tips are our suggestions to help you and your company stay protected!

Your friends at Protek IT Ltd