A Guide to Creating a Hack Proof Password
As the heart of digital technology beats stronger, more and more passwords and protections are required to ensure the privacy and protection of your personal data. Whilst you should know the basic dos and don'ts of password creation here is a little reminder to creating a hack proof password.
Of course the first rule of thumb is: don't make it generic, use numbers, and definitely do not share your password. You might be thinking to yourself – why should I make my password harder to remember – when there is already enough in life to focus on? What importance does creating a hack proof password have to me? The answer to these questions is cyber security.
With the new age of technology there has been the increase in cyber-attacks. Stealing your login credentials to sell YOUR details on the black market for some big money.
These cyber criminals use a variety of tactics to hack passwords from brute force attack (trying as many combinations as possible), to dictionary attack (trying a variety of words found in the dictionary) to the most common being phishing (where the hacker will manipulate you into sharing your information with them).
We can all fall victim to our private digital information being exploited, and no doubt you may have already experienced a time when someone has tried to scam or hack you. We have all heard of someone who has fallen for these cruel and deceptive ploys to steal your information. All it takes is for your grandma to get an email from the “bank” about her information being stolen… All they need is her card details and they can retrieve her lost information… and next thing you know, poor, innocent grandma has lost all her money to the phisher who emailed her!
We all know someone who has fallen prey to some sort of cybercrime, so what can we do to stop these criminals from exploiting our personal information?
Creating a strong password
There are a few rules that should be followed when creating a password that is safe, secure and strong. A strong password simply means that your password is hard to hack, deterring cybercriminals from stealing your information.
The best passwords follow this approach:
• Length is key! 12-character passwords are the most secure and make it harder from criminals to hack.
• Include numbers, characters and capital letters: this makes it a lot harder for hackers to guess and will make your password even stronger.
• Avoid common substitutions for words: These criminals are tech smart so hackers will easily guess boat as they do b0@t.
• Avoid sequential passwords: Easily guessed passwords like 1234, or qwerty (the letters along the keypad) are a hackers first guess. Try and make your password unique and something that no-one can guess.
• Change passwords across sites: If you use the same password for everything and a hacker gains access to that password, they can access ANY information you have out on the web.
• Two factor authentication: Most websites and apps will allow you to set up two factor authentication, meaning when someone tries to log into your account you will have to enter a pin sent to either your email or phone. This stops criminals from easily logging in with your details.
• Use a password manager: There are many different password managers out there such as RoboForm, Nordpass or Keeper which help secure all your passwords in one place.
• Do not share your password: This is a common thing everyone gets told; however, it is the most important!! DO NOT SHARE YOUR PASSWORD!!! Many phishers will often use a variety of internet scams to trick you into giving away your information. Many scammers will deceive you into sharing your financial or login details with them! NEVER SHARE YOUR BANK or PASSWORD DETAILS to anyone.
Cyber security is paramount in today's digital age and particularly with ecommerce sites. If you want to know more about ensuring security with your devices or online store – contact the friendly team at Central Coast Web Design, we are more than happy to assist you in protecting your assets online.