![]() Something you have could be your cell phone or a token. Something you are is normally some form of biometrics such as a fingerprint, iris pattern or voice or facial recognition. Something you know can be a password, a PIN number or a passphrase. It uses a combination of something you know, something you are or something you have. Multi-factor authentication grants a user access to a site or program only after the user provides two or more forms of authentication. This tip adds another layer of security for your information. I log all of my security questions and answers in my password manager so that if I ever need them, I can easily look them up. That will make it much harder for the questions to be answered.įor example, someone who knows you or who goes to your social media sites may be able to guess the answer to common security questions, but if you don’t use a real answer they won’t be able to guess. Instead, use a password generator to generate a password and then use that as the answer to the questions. I recommend that you never use real answers to these questions. For example, the questions may be something like, “What is your mother’s maiden name?”or “What street did you grow up on?”or “What was the name of the first school you attended?” And never use a common answer to these questions. If a hacker gains access to your account, they also gain access to the security questions. ![]() Some sites also prompt you for the answer to one or more of these questions when you log on. Most of the time when you set up an online account, you will be prompted to select several security questions that would allow you to access your account in the case you forget your password. When you change your password, you should also change your security questions. Set a reminder on your calendar to do this regularly. Many people are reluctant to do this because it is time-consuming, but it is critical. Make it a habit to change your password regularly. ![]() You could end up being a victim of identity theft which could potentially ruin you financially. This could include your bank account, brokerage account, email account, utility accounts and more. If a hacker gains access to one of your accounts and you use that same password on other websites, the crook will most likely be able to log in to every account you use that password. I cannot stress how important this is: Choose a unique password for each site you visit. Use a Different Password for Every Website Now that we’ve reviewed several ways to create a safe password, let’s look at how to keep your passwords and personal information safe. Always choose a new, completely unique password. Never Use Old Passwordsĭo not recycle old passwords, and don’t choose a password that is similar to something you have used in the past. If you use a password manager, most of them include a password generator within the program. Companies including Norton and Avast have password generators that I’ve used in the past. Use a password generator to generate a secure, random password. If you talk about your pet a lot on Facebook, know that your pet’s name is easy to “harvest,” so you shouldn’t use it in a password. The content you post on social media is just one way a hacker can find your personal information and then try to use it to guess what your password is. Most people have social media accounts nowadays, and some share a lot of personal information on these sites. Avoid meaningful names and dates in your passwords. Nearly 60% of adults have used personal information in a password. It’s way too easy for a potential hacker to guess. adults have admitted to using some variation of the following passwords:ĭon’t use a common word or phrase, and don’t use anything generic. Even if a site doesn’t, you should still mix it up. Each website is different, and some actually require you to incorporate a variety of the three. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Most reputable sites will require a minimum number of characters, but most allow you to use more than what is recommended. Websites have certain requirements for passwords. Make It LongĬhoose a password that is at least 12 characters long. So how do you choose a secure password - and how do you keep it safe? As a technical support specialist, I’m going to share my top tips for creating a safe password. It’s also important to set up and use passwords to log into your computer, tablet, smartphone, and other devices. Are you one of the estimated 66% of people who use the same password for multiple accounts? It’s understandable, as it’s easy to get frustrated trying to keep track of all the passwords we need to use.ĭespite that frustration, it’s crucial to choose a strong, secure, unique password for each website or service.
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