How to Keep My Password Secure?
The more layers of security you add to your password, the more you think of yourself as a secret agent. Now, the question is how can one keep his/her password safe in an online world infested with hackers and cybercriminals? In this article, we’ll reveal all the ways in which you can keep your password secure.
How to Keep My Password Secure?
Why Should I Keep My Password Secure?
It’s easy to forget passwords, we get it. It’s not anyone’s fault. But, that doesn’t mean this should become a recurrent scenario. Do you know how people often use create simple passwords inspired by their children’s names or birthdates? Well, you’ll be disappointed to know that such information is usually the hackers’ first guess. And if they’re lucky everything from your ID to financial data becomes in their possession. Now, is that something you can live with? Sharing your personal and valuable information with hackers who can blackmail into paying them so that you retain ownership of your own data? Absolutely not. That’s why you need to pay close attention to the passwords you create. If you don’t know how to come up with a strong one, you can always ask for help. In case, you were one of the unlucky ones who experienced a data breach, here’s what you need to do when your password gets hacked.
How to Keep My Password Secure?
Tear those sticky notes with your passwords written on them, ditch those easy to guess passwords that a six-year-old can come up with, and get your self a password manager. If you fail at creating a secure password and resort to these online tools, you’ll no longer have to worry about remembering your passwords again. In fact, with a password manager, you get to have a strong and unique password for every secure website. You can rely on a password manager to not only create but remember a strong, unique password for every website and account you have. Whether the password manager you seek is free or paid, it is an indispensable software that secures your online experience. Have a look at some of the password managers’ features here below.
Covers all the Password Basics
The first step would be getting all of your existing passwords into the password manager. Then, you need to replace the weak and duplicate passwords with tough ones. A great password manager can automate the password-change process for you. You don’t even have to enter that long and difficult password every time you seek access to your accounts as the majority of password managers can sync across all of your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
Fill Out Forms for You
Most password managers auto-fill credentials you have already stored. These password managers automatically fill in personal data on different web forms like your first and last name, email address, phone number, etc. The forms they do fill are ones you don’t have to type, making this feature a great time-saver. Although many websites offer to save your information, always resort to a password manager. It’s a much safer approach.
Extra Security
Logging in with your secure username and password to a website that lacks a secure HTTPS connection doesn’t make it safe. Good password managers warn you about such insecure login pages. While a website might use a secure HTTPS connection, third parties can still snoop in on you. This is why you should run your secure connections through a virtual private network. Having one adds an extra layer of protection. Some password managers include a built-in VPN that encrypts your connections automatically in order to keep you safe and secure at all times.
Other Useful Features
- having a password manager for applications, not just websites.
- using a secure browser that protects sensitive transactions, especially when you visit financial sites.
- automating the password change process
- syncing your passwords across all of your devices
- sharing and revoking passwords securely with other users
- transferring your logins to a trusted user in the event of your death or incapacity.
How to Create a Strong Password?
Creating a strong password can be somewhat challenging, but it’s not impossible. If you for some reason don’t get a password manager, here are some tips on how you should create a strong, unhackable password.
Avoid Using Personal Information
Try not to incorporate your actual name or any of your family members’ names in your passwords. Also, it’s preferable that you don’t use your phone numbers, your address, or even birthdates. Such information can be publicly available on social media profiles or on some of the forms you fill out. Having them there makes them easily accessible to hackers.
Opt for Long Passwords
Keep in mind, the longer the password, the better. A minimum of ten characters will give the hacker a hard time, making your password impossible to crack.
Make your Password Memorable
Create a password that is associated with something you like, such as a favorite song or a catchphrase. You don’t have to write it as it is. Instead, you can use the first letter from each word, replacing numbers for some of the letters.
Do Not Use Real Words
It’s better if you don’t use real words that can be found in dictionaries or even proper nouns. Many are the password cracking tools that help hackers guess your password. Such programs scan every word in the dictionary. They also process every possible letter and number combinations, until they crack your password. This is why we advise you to use special characters in your password. For example, you can combine uppercase and lowercase letters with numbers and special characters. This will increase the complexity of your password, making it less susceptible to getting hacked.
Use Different Passwords for Different Accounts
The intention behind creating one password for all your accounts comes from your inability to keep up with having many passwords. However, no matter how impractical it is, never use the same password on more than one account. Just imagine what state you’ll be in if a hacker manages to get through one of your passwords. Don’t you think he’ll try his/her luck to see if it works for your other accounts as well? Then, all of your other accounts will be compromised. To avoid that, we recommend using a password generator. Such a tool will help you create unique and strong passwords.
Avoid Writing Your Password Down
We all know how difficult it can be trying to remember passwords for different accounts. But, you have to resist the urge to write them down whether on a paper or a sticky note somewhere. If you so happen to have such a bad memory, you can resort to online tools we mentioned, such as Password Managers. These tools allow you to store and remember your passwords securely. They keep your usernames and passwords in encrypted form.
Change passwords Periodically
Did you know that using the same password for long periods of time could make you a victim of data breaches? You never know who could be spying in on you and who has retained your password. This is why computer login passwords should be changed at least once a quarter or every 1-2 months, especially passwords for online financial accounts.
Use a VPN
Search the market for a reliable VPN service provider and subscribe to it. A VPN on your device is crucial to your online experience. Connecting to a VPN secures your connection and makes it safe for your online browsing. Having a VPN is especially important when you are on Public WiFi. If you choose the best VPN for public WiFi, we guarantee that you’ll be away from malicious attacks and hacking attempts. To save you some trouble, the best VPN you can get your hands on is ExpressVPN. Now, if ExpressVPN is not your cup of tea, you might want to check out the other service providers laid out in the table below.
- Best for streaming and privacy
- High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
- Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
- 24/7/ live chat support
- 3 extra months free on annual plan
- UltraHD streaming
- Free Smart DNS proxy
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Limited Time 72% Discount
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Over 1000 servers
- Ad-blocking feature available
- User-friendly application
- Exclusive Smart VPN feature
- Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
- Extra security features
- Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- Split-tunneling available
How to Keep My Password Secure? – Final Thoughts
The stories you hear about people going through the garbage looking for valuable information are true and very much real. These people turn out to be hackers who end up gaining access to your account just because you couldn’t remember your password and you had to write it down somewhere. The importance of creating secure passwords is more important than ever in a world rising with security breaches and data theft. Password leaks and data breaches leave hundreds of user accounts vulnerable to being accessed by hackers cybercriminals. With all that being said, we urge you not to take the matter of password creation lightly, unless online security means nothing to you. Avoid being a victim, relieve yourself of the burden of remembering your passwords, and start using a password manager this instant.
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About The Author
Charles
Streaming gadgets geek. Interested in every little thing there is to know about bypassing regional restrictions. An avid believer in the right to protect online privacy. Charles has also reviewed plenty of VPN service providers and knows how to separate the good apples from the bad ones.
