Thanks to the rapid technological advancements over the past few decades, almost every mainstream industry is now digital. Be it social media accounts, banking services, or shopping websites.
To secure our digital footprints on these platforms, we rely on Passwords. The unique string of characters helps safeguard our valuable data against unwanted entities.
Sadly, millions of people make common mistakes while setting up or securing their passwords, which puts their entire presence on the internet at risk.
To help you out, we have shared some of the dos and don’ts associated with passwords that will help you determine whether your password is secure or not.
Avoid These Password Creation & Management Mistakes
In this section, we have enlisted some of the password creation and management mistakes that you should avoid at all costs,
1. Weak Passwords
A survey conducted by ExpressVPN revealed that 15% of U.S. participants use weak passwords.
These passwords are easy to guess and generally consist of kids’ names, pets’ names, birthday dates, residential addresses, an easy string of numbers, and much more.
Consequently, if someone gathers even basic public information about you, then they can effortlessly guess your password.
In the latter section of this article, we have shared some great tips to create a strong password, so continue reading.
2. Same Password On Multiple Services
Having the same or slightly altered password on multiple websites and services can also be harmful.
For instance, if one of your passwords gets leaked in a data breach, unwanted parties will be able to access your other accounts on social media, banking, or shopping sites using the same password.
We highly advise our readers never to use the same password on multiple websites.
3. Sharing Or Exposing Passwords
Sharing or accidentally exposing your password can also cause trouble.
Even if you trust someone, never share your important passwords with them.
For instance, intentionally or unintentionally, the person you shared your password with might use it on an unsecured computer, network, or website.
Furthermore, if you accidentally expose your password to someone or on any fishy website, quickly change it to avoid any problems.
Best Strategies To Improve Password Security
1. Enable Two Factor Authentication
One of the best ways to drastically improve your password security is by enabling two-factor authentication.
Doing so will ensure that even if someone gains access to your password, they won’t be able to log in to your account without the 2FA code.
You can use a dedicated authentication app like Google Authenticator or request an OTP code using your phone number to enable two two-factor authentication.
2. Regularly Change Your Important Password
Over time, your passwords might become outdated, compromised, or leaked.
Consequently, changing important passwords regularly is also a great practice to safeguard your password against unwanted access by hackers.
We highly encourage you to change your password every few months or if you notice any unusual activity on your accounts.
3. Use Reliable Password Manager
Another great way to create, store, protect, and manage your passwords and improve their security is by using a trustworthy and reliable password manager.
Password Managers can also help you recommend strong and unique passwords. Furthermore, password managers encrypt your passwords and store them in a vault.
A survey on passwords revealed that password managers are used by 21% of respondents. However, only 19% adopt two-factor authentication to log in securely into their accounts.
So, even if you use a password manager, ensure that you have 2FA enabled.
How To Create A Strong Password?
Following the dos and don’ts shared in the aforementioned sections, you have already improved the security of your passwords. That said, creating a strong and unique password is also a good practice.
To create a strong password, ensure that your password is at least 10 characters long, and contains a good mix of numbers, symbols, and both uppercase and lowercase letters. Additionally, never use easy-to-guess or personal information as your password.
CONCLUSION
So this was everything you needed to know about the World Of Passwords.
Clearly, passwords have completely revolutionized the way we secure our valuable information. As a result, creating, storing, and organizing strong passwords can help you safeguard your presence on the internet.
We highly recommend that our readers check out and use trustworthy password managers to simplify the entire process.