Many of us will fall victim to online scams and fraud resulting in financial loss. A strong password can protect us. But what is a ‘strong password’? We put good locks on our front doors, so why do we often overlook the importance of protecting our data with strong passwords?
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Follow these tips to create strong passwords.
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Firstly, it is one that hasn’t been written down and tacked to your screen or sent to yourself via an email. Avoid writing passwords down if at all possible.
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Contrary to many people’s beliefs, a strong password is not necessarily one that contains lots of special characters. Length is the defining ‘strength’ factor.
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We recommend that you use a reputable password manager. There are many online and they’re free. They generate strong passwords for you, and remember them so you don’t have to.
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If you’d rather, you could use a memorable fictional phrase. It should consist of around four words and be different for every account.
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Change your password every 3 - 6 months.
If, like many of us, the amount of information, passwords, logins and secret codes makes it impossible to remember, the most important password is your email address. Make sure this is different from all other accounts. If cyber criminals have access to your email, they have access to all your accounts by generating ‘forgotten my password’ requests. 2-factor authentication is a fantastic defense if you can put up with the faf.
As our health is threatened more than ever simply by stepping out of our house, let’s ensure the threats stop at the front door and don’t enter our personal lives. We should take back what power we have and protect our online data from threats one strong password at a time!