Your passwords are the keys to your digital kingdom. With your login credentials, a hacker can hurt you financially, impersonate you on the Internet, or steal your gaming or video streaming accounts. In some cases, a cybercriminal can also use your password to attack your friends, family, and employers with scams, hacks, and malware.
Hackers can use various techniques and tools to copy your password. They may use brute force attacks, dictionary attacks, or use phishing emails to plant password copying software on your system. That’s why it’s critical to learn how to detect keylogger viruses, spyware, stalkerware, and Trojan password-stealers on your PC, Mac, or mobile device. Here are a few more tips for password security:
Your Password Must Be Long
The shorter your password, the easier it is to breach with a brute force attack. Experts say your password should be at least a dozen characters long, if not more.
Your Password Must Be Complex
To set a strong password, ensure that it carries a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. Additionally, add some numbers and symbols for good effect.
Avoid Known Patterns
Don’t use your birthdate or the birthdate of your friends or family in the password. Likewise, avoid any famous dates in history, like your country’s Independence Day or your favorite celebrity’s wedding day. Hackers will try all combinations of notable dates.
Similarly, don’t use common words that you’d find in a dictionary. You should even also steer clear of slang words when coming up with a password. By avoiding known patterns in letters or strings of numbers, you make your password more difficult to guess.
Your Password Must Be Sophisticated
Your password is still weak if you merely add a number and a symbol at the end of a password. Try to mix it up by adding numbers and symbols more randomly. Hackers nowadays add numbers or symbols at either end of passwords because they know that’s what Internet users do.
Scan for Malware
As mentioned above, hackers use different types of malicious software to steal passwords. Your Windows or Mac’s baked-in antivirus software may not be sufficient at shielding your system from emerging threats. Take advantage of an anti-malware software that stops legacy threats like viruses and more sophisticated malware like spyware.
Use a Password Manager
A password manager is an excellent way to set robust passwords and keep track of them too. Find a reputable password manager that stores your login credentials on offsite encrypted databases. But please keep track of your master password for your password manager to avoid grief.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
2FA is a useful security protocol that shields your accounts from bad actors who have your login credentials. With this feature on, a potential thief will need to authenticate a second way before accessing an account from a new computer or IP address. 2FA is available for many social media, financial, email, and entertainment platforms.
In addition to the tips mentioned above, please change your passwords regularly, don’t save them on websites, and only write them down in a private location. Keeping your passwords secure will help you safeguard your identity and your finances.
