How to Create a Strong Password
May 7th is World Password Day! A perfect reminder to update any old passwords you may be using! The website for World Password Day states that “Password Day is meant to create awareness of the need for good password security.” and we couldn’t agree more!
Here are our top tips for creating a strong password.
Make passwords long
When it comes to passwords, the longer the better! IMG Security recommends that your password should be a minimum of 16 characters long. While that does seem a long amount, it can help if you create a key phrase in your mind. Such as EGBdF (Every Good Boy Does Fine).
Update your passwords quarterly
Studies recommend updating your password every 90 days. Plus, every time you reset your passwords, it’s a good idea to make sure your security questions are up to date.
Make security questions random
Customizing security questions to things that only you know is an excellent way to minimize risk. Try to avoid questions that people could guess, like “your high school mascot,” or “your mother’s maiden name.”
Make passwords impersonal
While using a pet or loved one’s name makes things easy to remember, it is suggested that the more random you can make your password, the better. Don’t be afraid to use numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and special characters (like #!%$) in your password as well!
Use multi factor authentication.
While this step may seem like it takes an extra step of time, it’s a fantastic way to protect your passwords and your accounts. Some examples of multi factor authentication are text verification, email verification, or security questions. Having this extra step is like an extra wall that hackers need to jump over, so we highly recommend using two factor authentication whenever possible.