The Power of Passwords

1. Passwords Should Exceed 8 Characters
The average hacker can easily crack a weak password. Passwords should be longer than 8 characters and must contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The longer and more complex your password, the more secure your account will be from cybercrime.

2. Change Passwords Periodically

It can take about 5 months to crack the 11-digit password. Make sure to change your password regularly to something completely different than before. Also, make sure that different accounts do not have the same password. If a hacker can break into your account and all passwords are the same, the hacker can access everything.

3. Don’t Share Passwords Digitally

If you use a digital communications system, make sure not to share passwords inside of it. All hackers have to do is access one account to find passwords for the rest of them, it’s too easy. Safely give out passwords to those as needed without leaving digital breadcrumbs.

4. Set Up Two-Step Authentication

If you have two-factor authentication set up, even if someone can crack your long password, that person will not be able to access your account. The most common is to use a strong password and then receive a text message containing a code you can enter. As such, cybercriminals will not be able to access your account unless they have your phone.

5. Log Out When You’re Done

Hackers don’t need to spend hours working on figuring out your password if all they have to do is open your computer, phone, or tablet and you’re still signed in to your sensitive accounts. Make sure you log out of all accounts when you’re done to protect your business’ information. If the hacker is already signed into your account and your email, they can easily change your passwords. Don’t get locked out, log out.

Want to learn more? Let’s talk. Contact our team at 843-236-6436.