It is tempting to create passwords that are easy to remember, like using your address, birth date or first name, but doing so only aids the hackers. The challenge lies in making a password that is difficult to guess, but still easy enough for you to remember.
Follow this hacker-proof guide to protect all of your accounts, and ultimately your identity!
- Use a combination of numbers, as well as upper and lower case letters.
- Use a different password for each account.
- Create passwords that are at least six characters long.
- Change your passwords on a regular basis – make it easier to remember by associating when to make changes with a regular event such as your payday.
- Never use numbers or names publicly associated with you such as an address, birth date or pet’s name.
- Don’t use any form of your login name as your password.
- If you are struggling to remember your passwords, invest in a secure password storage program – some even give you access to your codes when using a different computer than your own.
- Remember to never give out your passwords to anyone, especially through e-mail or over the phone.