Here’s a question for you to ponder: when it comes to your internet security and privacy, do you know how important your email password is?
Believe it or not, it’s the last defensive line to your security and privacy. Therefore, a hacker that gets ahold of it can reset passwords, gain access to your bank account, social media networks and your identity, using the I Forgot My Password button.
You may be tempted to use one password for all your accounts but this could do you more harm than good. If one of your accounts is hacked, it could lead to all accounts being hacked. Therefore, each account should have its own unique password.
A look at KeePass
Now, free program KeePass will store your passwords in an encrypted database, giving you access to them with a master password. This lets you have all your passwords on a single thumb drive.
A look at LastPass
LassPass is a multiplatform password manager that includes browser support. This program is extremely easy to use because it syncs between computers and browsers automatically. Thus, you can get access to your encrypted database whatever device you are using. Bear in mind that with it, you do give up the security of your password list being on a single hard drive.
It’s also got a handy plug-in for each browser.
A password manager is ideal to boosting personal security on the internet. However, there are no perfect ones. The best password is the kind you don’t write down – that involves a string of symbols, numbers and letters. It’s the perfect password that you don’t know until you actually type it in. While it may seem like an impossible task, it can be done with some simple reminder tricks.
How to come up with a password that’s unique to all
It’s not that hard to come up with a unique, strong password; you just need to follow some simple rules:
- Create a password base that includes a mixture of lowercase and uppercase letters, along with some numbers and symbols. Pick phrases that are easy for you to remember but be creative with them. Go with simple password that involves a favorite dish, hobby, etc.
- Your passphrase should be about eight characters long and not include memorable things like hometowns, birthdays and proper names. Try not to use a single word and changing it up with symbols. The tools hackers use can easily surpass that trick. Use a passphrase that’s got several words put together so it’s harder for them to hack your account. They’ll have to use every word in the dictionary to find it out.
- Once you’ve chosen the passphrase, bring them together into one phrase – baconcheeseburger – and then add in some capital letters – BaconCheeseburger. Make it even harder by adding in some random characters – 2BaconCheeseburger!.
After you get your base password, you need to memorize it so that it’s a skeleton key that unlocks your accounts on websites you use them for. If you want to create a password that’s strong, you need to come up with a simple naming pattern for your reminder device. This will ensure you come up with a unique password for all websites you visit.
For instance, you use the first and third letter of the website’s domain name midway of the passphrase, capitalizing one and leaving the other lowercase. Therefore, your LinkedIn account password would be unique. So, for the above password you’d have 2BaconLiNCheeseburger!. A Twitter password could read 2BaconTwRCheeseburger!.
Notice what the pattern is? Create something along those lines and you’re going to have a password that’s going to be easy for you to remember but next to impossible for hackers to get ahold of.
While no password is going to be perfect, it’s a unique one that ensures that you’re working toward a private online life.