World Password Day

Today is World Password Day – the perfect opportunity to ensure we are doing all we can to manage our online logins. Passwords are a key to our digital identity. They allow us to bank, shop, work, and socialize online, but they also protect us. Strong, complex passwords ensure all the information we store online is protected, which is essential for our privacy and security.

So, let’s use this annual event to ensure we are doing all we can to secure our online data by adequately managing our passwords.

• Commit to NOT Using Common Passwords

Passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and unfortunately, 12345 as a password just doesn’t cut it. To avoid giving the wrong people access to your accounts, make sure you create strong and unique passwords. This means including numbers, lowercase, and uppercase letters and symbols. The more complex your password, the more difficult it is to crack.

• Same Password For Every Account? Think Again

Having one password across all online accounts is alluring because let’s admit it…we’ve all been locked out of an account after failing to remember the password. While having one password to remember for all accounts seems to make life easier, it increases the risk of your vital online data being compromised at once across different accounts. So, ensure that your logins are unique for every account to avoid having all your accounts become vulnerable.

• Always Select Multi-Factor Authentication

Wherever possible, use multifactor authentication (MFA) for online accounts. MFA is a security system that requires more than one way of identification before gaining access to an account. It most commonly involves a security code sent to your smartphone or security questions on top of the password.

• Employ A Password Manager

Password Managers create random and complex passwords for each of your accounts and store them securely, which means you don’t need to! All you need to do is remember the master password. When choosing a password manager, ensure it uses multi-factor authentication to identify you.

It’s time to give your password habits an overhaul and keep yourself protected.