Get rid of that dirty notepad paper and invest in a password manager
Like a lock, passwords are meant to keep intruders from gaining unauthorized access to confidential information. SO, naming your password “Password” or “123456” simply won’t do.
Data breaches have sadly become the new normal, which means it’s ever more crucial to have stronger passwords to act as a first line of defense. According to a study performed at Virgina Tech, 52 percent of users reuse their passwords across multiple platforms.
By doing this, if a data breach were to occur, it could create a domino effect that puts all accounts associated with that password at risk.
Services that store your passwords are nice to have. Not only do they securely store your passwords, but they also create automated passwords, store other important data like banking and credit card information too.
Google and Apple created a password manager, which completely replaces that notepad with all of your handwritten passwords, then stores them digitally instead. Like the study from Virginia Tech suggests, people often reuse their passwords, likely because they have multiple accounts and don’t want to remember a new password.
With a password manager, they automatically remember the passwords. Once the app is set up, they autofill the user and password information for those accounts too.
Tips for keeping information secure:
- Use a unique password for all accounts.
- Passwords should be at least 8 characters long and consist of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers and symbols.
- Do not use personal information to create a password
- Always log off/sign out when finished with an account.
- Avoid entering passwords on computers you don’t utilize regularly
- Avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi connections to log into accounts
- Change your passwords regularly
For more information on how we can help protect you while on digital platforms, please contact us at out Vancouver or Austin office.
