Biometric security options like fingerprints and facial ID have become popular nowadays. However, when it comes to getting assured data security, strong passwords can never lose significance. Creating and remembering passwords can sometimes be frustrating. We tend to either create passwords that are too easy to break or too hard to remember.
How to create bulletproof passwords?
Don’t look for simplicity
The length and complexity play an important role in providing strength to a password as it makes them unpredictable and harder to crack. The passwords that consist of less than 8 simple characters can be easily broken through brute force attack algorithms. Thus, make sure that your passwords are at least 10 characters long having numbers, symbols, upper and lowercase letters.
Never include personal details
Passwords that include bits of personal information, such as your name, phone number, or address make them easier to break. Since this kind of information is available on the internet, it is easy to guess them. It is especially true when we share a lot of personal information online. While creating a password, choose a phrase with random numbers and characters. For example, if you like ice cream you may choose the phrase: ILikeIceCream. Now, you need to replace some alphabets with numbers to make it an unobvious phrase, like, 1LIK3icE([email protected]!
Avoid using old passwords
Using old or reused passwords increases the chance of guessing by someone. Thus, try to use unique passwords for each account, including those accounts that don’t hold your personal information. Once this account is compromised, it can pose threat to sensitive accounts. If you feel that any website is monitoring or warning you that your details have been revealed, immediately change your password.
How to keep your passwords secure?
Never save your passwords in your web browser
Most of the commonly used web browsers ask you to save your login credentials. Giving consent to them may appear convenient but it increases the chances of breaking your passwords. The situation is riskier if you are on a shared/public device or when the device itself is not safe with its login. Although web browsers claim to be highly secure, a person who gets the login credentials or knows how to fetch from the web browser may cause serious data security threats. Thus, if you’ve saved your passwords within your web browsers, immediately delete them.
Always logout
We have developed a comfort level with our most frequently used devices. We don’t want to enter the waste time entering the login credentials each time we are using an application. Not logging out seems an easy way to resume your task later. In case your device gets stolen, the thief could easily access the application or tasks you were using. Thus, signing out becomes essential to keep your data saved even if you lose your device.
Change your password after 3 months
Many people have a habit of using a password for years. The older the password, the more susceptible it gets against attacks. It is due to the use of passwords across different devices and applications. Thus, you must update your password every 3 months. Note that your new password should not relate to or is similar to your old password.
Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication, also known as two-step verification, is an extra sheet of security for your accounts. As soon as you enable it, you will require a secondary confirmation or a physical security key. Thus, even if someone gets your password, it shall not be possible to break through it.
The internet is accumulating an enormous amount of data each second. While enjoying the convenience and speed the internet offers us, we neglect the security of our data. Our passwords are the only line between our information being private or public. Hence, it’s our responsibility to keep our passwords safe.
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