Five tips on creating secure passwords
Passwords are required for almost every platform you encounter online. Creating complex, unique passwords for every platform can be a challenge.
However, using an easy, simple password can put you and your sensitive data at a massive risk.
In this blog we're sharing password best practices you can follow to enhance your cyber security.
Five password best practices to improve your online security:
1. Create long passwords
Make sure your passwords are at least 12 characters long, and use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, and symbol characters to make it harder to crack.
2. Multifactor authentication
Enable multifactor authentication on any online service you use. For added security, where possible, use an app on your phone to retrieve the code instead of receiving an SMS or email. If your provider doesn’t offer multifactor authentication, consider switching to a provider that does.
3. Avoid using dictionary words
Hackers have automated tools to crack passwords that use dictionary words, making dictionary words easy to crack in a brute-force attack. To combat this, use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbol characters.
4. Don't use personal information
Avoid using personal information to create a password. Without realising, many individuals divulge personal and sensitive information about themselves on social media every day. Unfortunately, cybercriminals often use this public information to gather information they can use to target you for cybercriminal activities.
5. Never use the same password for all your accounts
Use a password manager secured with a good password to store the usernames and passwords for all your individual accounts. Some password managers will allow you to save the website address in there too, so simply clicking the link will take you to the site and log you in.
Increase your cyber security awareness
Unfortunately, cyber attacks are on the rise, especially targeting small- to medium-sized enterprises. 70% of cyber attackers deliberately target small businesses. Beyond creating secure passwords, your organisation and employees need to be equipped with the tools and knowledge to create a strong cyber secure culture.
Get in touch to find out more about how our cyber security solutions can help.