Almost anything we do online requires us to have some kind of log-in credentials or some type of password for gatekeeping purposes. Even newsletters and grocery apps require passwords.
Not all accounts are created equal. Some are just throwaway accounts that you used to sign up once to get that free item or a discount code and some accounts contain very sensitive information that you would guard with your life. You don’t use the same password for both these kinds of accounts, do you? If you use only one password for all your accounts – PLEASE DON’T. In the immortal words of the Spice Girls “stop right now!” It’s a very, very bad idea to reuse passwords let alone use 1 password for ALL your online accounts.
People are still terrible at passwords
The bad news, it’s 2023 and people are still using terrible passwords like “1234” or “password”. I’m not saying that’s you. I’m sure you’ve mastered the art of the strong password by now. A strong password, as I’m sure you know, has a combination of these:
- Upper case
- Lower case
- Numbers
- Special characters
You deserve a safe digital life
Aside from good password management, here are some simple ways to secure your digital life:
- Use different passwords – you already know that it is a big no-no to reuse passwords. Use a different password for every account you create, otherwise, if one account is breached, other accounts could easily be compromised.
- Use MFA – MFA means Multi factor Authentication. This security feature adds another layer of protection (like a token or a mobile phone app) in addition to your username and password.
- Use advanced authentication methods – aside from MFA, other advanced authentication methods include: biometric verification (like thumbprint verification or Windows Hello facial recognition). For next level security, you can use a Yubikey.
- Secure your mobile phone – you may have strong security protocols in place but if your mobile phone is not secure, that could be a point of failure. So, secure your mobile phone with extra strong passwords, MFA, and advanced authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition).
- Avoid storing passwords – avoid storing passwords either digitally or on paper. Use a password manager like the ones mentioned in the previous article or if you’re just looking for basic features, use your browser password management features. The convenience of using password managers is that you only have to remember one password, the one that lets you access your password vault. If you haven’t used a password manager before, you can watch an overview of how it works here. (Not advertising this service but it’s the one I’m using.)
Stolen or weak passwords are still the most common reason for data breaches, so it’s a must to pay attention to the passwords you keep and create and make sure they are strong and secure.
What are your tried and tested security tips? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp