5 passwords mistakes you make
According to Michael Chertoff, former secretary of the US Homeland Security, “the password is the weakest link in cybersecurity”. While many people think that their passwords protect them, it turns out that passwords don’t fully guarantee protection from hackers or online privacy. However, if you can get smart about using strong passwords, you can minimize the risk of attack.
Major security breaches that have made headlines around the world almost always have password security issues. The question is, how do you keep your account information from being stolen? Well, you need to avoid making the following common password mistakes.
1. Using passwords that are too simple
Your password acts as a gateway between your confidential information and hackers. If you don’t create complex passwords, it will be easier for cyber criminals to find you. For example, using very short passwords is not recommended.
A few decades ago, five to six characters were the typical length of passwords for the average computer. However, according to Moore’s law, the computing power doubles every two years. As a result, short passwords today are almost as bad as lack of a password.
To increase the security of your password, experts recommend increasing the length of your password to at least 10 to 12 characters. Simple passwords like 123456 or Abcdf can be made readily available. Conversely, stronger passwords consist of a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. This means that setting your password to “wH @ 283 / * & Bx” is much stronger than “Abc123”.
2. Reuse passwords
As your passwords get longer and more complex, you might be tempted to reuse your passwords for different accounts to save yourself having to remember different passwords.
Unfortunately, using one password to protect multiple online accounts is a very bad idea. If a hacker manages to compromise one account, they can easily log into your other accounts. So try to create unique passwords for all of your accounts.
3. Write down your passwords
The other problem with creating unique and complex passwords is that you may be tempted to write them down. But that’s not certain either. Snooping family members, burglars and friends can come across your password notebook. If a natural disaster such as a flood or fire hits your home, you could lose your notebook due to password security reasons.
Use a password manager to securely store all of your passwords in one program instead of writing down your passwords in notebooks or computer documents.
4. Change your passwords too often
There are popular beliefs that people should change their passwords every three to six months. However, changing passports regularly is not always a wise decision.
You can change your password from time to time, but not too often. In fact, studies have shown that those who change their passports frequently end up 46% easier to guess. However, you should always change your password if you suspect it is unsafe.
5. Do not set password protection on mobile devices
No matter how strong your password is, it’s worth adding an extra layer of security. Failure to set password protection on mobile devices is a regrettable password mistake.
If it’s easy to forget your passwords, ask strong security questions and answers for your online accounts. Finally, you should make good use of multi-factor authentication codes like 2FA. These prevent unauthorized users from breaching your accounts even if they understand your password correctly.
Avoid these common password mistakes and save your online accounts. If you want to secure your business, you can turn to a trusted IT company in Ventura or one of your local offices for their managed IT and cybersecurity services.