A Few Steps to Creating Strong Passwords

Do you struggle with creating strong passwords? We all have those moments when we try to log in to online accounts, and the website says the password is invalid, or we are trying to create a new password, and that little bar says ‘Password: Weak.’ It happens to me near-daily, which is why I recently subscribed to a password manager, Last Pass. It has been an enormous help.

With today being World Password Day, it is crucial to understand why creating secure and hard-to-break passwords is essential to the safety of your business. Here are some password-creation tips for your personal and business accounts that will help keep them safe and secure.

1. Passwords should contain alphabetic, numeric, and special characters
2. Passwords should include both upper and lower-case letters
3. Passwords should have ten or more characters
4. Should not be the word password
5. Does not include your birth date, anniversary date, or any other particular well-known date
6. Does not include the year
7. Should not include names of individuals in your life (i.e., children, wife, husband)
8. Should always be different from the previous password used

Along with passwords, many websites allow you to create and answer security questions for those times when you may forget your login information.  There are some important items to remember for these as well:

1.  Do not choose questions for which the answers can be found by doing a simple Google search (your mother’s maiden name or your birth month).
2. Security questions should be something you can easily remember and will not change twenty years from now. (favorite colors, foods, and movies can often change over time)
3. Security questions should be something unique to you.
4. There is only one correct answer as it pertains to you individually, but there are a thousand possibilities for a hacker to try.

Celebrate World Password Day the right way by changing and updating your current passwords to those that meet the above guidelines.

On this World Password Day, don’t wait for a security breach to motivate you—take proactive steps to protect your personal and business accounts today. Start by reviewing your passwords and ensuring they meet the criteria outlined above.

Consider using a password manager like LastPass to simplify the process of creating and storing strong passwords. By making these changes, you’ll enhance your security and enjoy peace of mind knowing your accounts are safeguarded.

Join the movement towards better online security—update your passwords now! Your future self will thank you.