If you’re like most people, you log into several websites a day that make you create new usernames and passwords. You may have numerous social media and email accounts that always require login details before you can access your data. This is why everyone should know how to make a strong password.
You should always ask yourself if you have changed your password within the last three months. Do your passwords include characters, numbers, lower and upper cases? And do you have a different password for each of your accounts?
If you cannot answer yes to these questions, you need to keep reading the following 10 tips to avoid getting hacked.
How to Make a Strong Password for All
It is always a hassle to remember a different password for all your accounts. Unless you write them all down, you may forget which passwords you have chosen.
Hackers always exploit those who use the same password for everything. It is always beneficial to use a separate password for every account to avoid them all getting hacked.
Use a password tool to record them all safely so that they are easily accessible when you need to log in.
Make Long Passwords
The last thing you want is to get hacked if your password is a short word that anyone can guess. You do not want your work email password to be your cat’s name that all your friends know.
Always choose a password that is around 14-20 characters long to keep your accounts safe.
Use Special Characters
Special characters like “@” or “!” should be included in your passwords. This is a good way to make them more complex. However, you should always be smart about it. Do not use your own name with special characters, like “J@ck,” because anyone can guess this easily.
Avoid Easy Passwords
You should always avoid making your passwords too easy for people to guess. You would be surprised by the information others learn about you through regular conversations.
For instance, everyone would know the name of your partner or pets, so you should never choose these as your passwords. Always have a unique password that you can switch around with letters or characters.
Change Passwords Regularly
One of the mistakes we make with computer passwords is that we do not bother to change them. If you seriously cannot remember when you last changed a password, you should immediately pick a new one.
These should always be changed every three months. Do not reuse old passwords in case a hacker has already cracked them.
Never Share Passwords
This is a no-brainer that you should pick a strong password and never tell anyone what it is. Even if you are in a relationship, it is best to keep your passwords secure.
When you tell someone else your login information, you risk them spread it to others. You should also never share your password over phone, email, or text. These can be intercepted, and your personal info may be compromised.
Use Strong Recovery Questions
When we choose passwords, we need to also select security questions. These are standard, such as “what was the name of your first pet?” However, this is risky because many people in your life would recall who your first pet was.
Even if you use that question and include your pet’s name, add some extra text in the answer box. Then you can rest assured knowing someone will not automatically reset your passwords to gain access to your accounts.
Use Password Generators
The hardest part about picking a new password is knowing what to choose, especially since you should never reuse old ones. If you struggle to get creative with your passwords, you can find plenty of password generators online that randomly create one for you.
Some people feel uncomfortable using password generators because they can create random letters and numbers that do not mean anything personally. We often choose personal passwords like a spouse’s name or favorite baseball team because this is the information we never forget in our lives.
However, the risk is that if something is easy for us to remember, it is also simple for a hacker to break into. Therefore, you should use password generators to create something new or use one familiar to you with extra special characters, numbers, lower cases, and upper cases.
Use Secure HTTP
When you access a website that you need to log into, you should always check to see if it has “https://” before the URL. This means that you are browsing with a secure HTTP, and the network is safe.
This should always be a priority if you access sites using free Wi-Fi in public areas like your nearest Starbucks.
Always Backup Your Data
No matter how many steps we take, mistakes can happen. Hackers are becoming more and more creative each day, so you never know when and how someone may gain access to your accounts.
Data loss is inevitable in most cases for numerous reasons. It is necessary to always keep your most important files backed up on an external hard drive.
This way, you will never have to kick yourself down the road if you ever lose access to your accounts or computer if someone else has cracked your security information. Here is a helpful resource if you ever need to urgently change Mac password.
Never Get Hacked Again
Everyone should always know how to make a strong password because it is the only way to protect all your email and social accounts from falling into the wrong hands.
To avoid getting hacked, you should include special characters. For a unique password, either use a password generator or create one yourself with extra text. Never use a partner or pet’s name because anyone close to you can guess this in no time.
If you enjoyed reading these cybersecurity tips, check out some of our other posts for more information.
