Top Tips on Password Management to Keep Your Data Safe
Before the advent of the Internet, there were few passwords other than your PIN code to remember. But these days, it can be tricky to remember all the login details for the numerous online services we all frequently use.
For this reason, far too many people are guilty of using the same password for different sites, and for creating passwords that can be easily guessed. What the average user forgets is that only an alphanumeric string stands between a cyber criminal and your personal details, including your bank account. And with hacker scams on the increase, this is something to take very seriously.
The following guide will help you boost your security online by exploring some easy yet key ways to create and manage safe passwords.
Keep Them Guessing
It’s absolutely essential to use a different password for each website that you visit. And since cyber criminals use specialised password-cracking software to guess their way into your accounts, passwords such as your cat’s name or something ridiculously simple such as “123456” will put you at great risk of having your personal details hacked.
There have been incidents where criminals stole and then posted thousands of user passwords online for anyone to see. What’s worse, when these passwords were analysed, the most popular ones were hardly passwords at all, such as those listed in the paragraph above.
In addition, an Internet security survey found that one-third of all people use the same password for everything they do online, meaning if a hacker get’s one password right, he/she then has access to all your personal information in one foul swoop.
Now let’s look at how to create secure passwords for all your online destinations.
Manual DIY Passwords
Most people simply come up with their own passwords – this is the manual way of doing things. Here are some top tips to make sure that they’re as hacker-proof as possible:
· The lengthier your password, the less chance a cyber criminal can crack it. Most websites these days require at least six characters as mandatory, but what would be even better is if you can stretch it out to 10 or 12. This will increase your level of protection significantly.
· Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, plus at least one number, and, if possible, a symbol too. For example, even the term password can be made secure if you write it like this: P5ssw0rd#.
· In terms of getting around having to think up different passwords for different sites, a good way to go about it is to start with the name of the site, and then build a password around it. For example, you could swap any “e” for a “3” and any “i” for a “1”, then add your initials to the front and reverse them at the end. This type of formula is easy to remember and will go a long way in protecting you.
· Use Microsoft’s Password Checker which will rate how your password fares in terms of being impenetrable.
· List all your passwords in a simple Excel spreadsheet or Google Docs. This will make sure you never forget them, plus it will allow you to easily cut n paste a password into the relevant box rather than having to type it each time. Make sure however that the spreadsheet is password protected so no-one can get at it but you.
Automated Password Managers
An automated password creator is definitely something to consider, since it can manage your passwords ultra effectively for you.
There are many Password Manager programs and services available to choose from. They will generate a unique, hack-proof password for each website you visit, memorise it and enter it into the password field automatically every time you return. The only password you will then have to remember is the one that allows you to access your password manager.
This type of tool will integrate directly with your chosen Web browser. It also comes with a strongly encrypted desktop “vault” program that you can use for more than just Web passwords. It can also store your credit card and passport number, as well as other things like software registration codes.
What’s more, a password manager that syncs with your mobile is an excellent way forward – this means you can carry all your important details on the move without fear of them falling into the wrong hands if the phone is hacked or stolen. These days there are companion apps for all the major brand smartphones such as BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone.
Conclusion
Whether you go the route of manually creating your passwords using the tips listed above or install an automatic password manager program to do the job for you, it’s crucial to make sure your personal information is secure. And with cyber criminal activity only getting more sophisticated and prevalent, it should go without saying that having an up-to-date antivirus download is absolutely essential too.
About the Author: Peter McKiel is an independent IT Consultant.
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