If you want to use the internet in any way, shape, or form and stay safe while doing it, there is one thing, in particular, you’ll need to do: create a unique password for every service you use. Despite their prominence in society, many people are inconsistent when it comes to creating secure passwords. This is totally okay. It’s common for us to get comfortable and reuse the same tactics when creating passwords for our personal and business accounts, but having an unwillingness to learn these strategies will increase the likelihood of your information being obtained by hackers. Our team of IT professionals at RHYNO Networks wants its consumers to be fully aware of the appropriate practices to implement when creating a secure passwords. Today we’ll be discussing the 8 do’s and don’ts of secure password creation.

Don’t Use Short Passwords

A lot of people fall into the camp of “If I do the bare minimum to create a short password, I’ll have an easier time remembering it.” While you certainly need to uphold responsibility for remembering your passwords, randomly using characters will not make the cut. It will be harder to remember and there simply aren’t enough characters in a short password to make it difficult for programs to figure out. To be protected from password cracking programs, many IT professionals recommend a secure password length of at least 14 characters. 

Don’t Store Passwords Where They Can Be Easily Traced

If you routinely write down your passwords and leave them in areas that are easily accessible, chances are, someone else can get to this information as well. Even if it’s in a familiar setting, a password is a valuable asset. If you do need to keep a record of your passwords, refrain from keeping them in areas where others can access them, or use a password manager (which we will get into later). 

Don’t Use An Easy To Guess Password

A variety of passwords are easy to guess because they will be used repeatedly. Stray away from password combos that involve the use of ascending numbers, patterns, and personal information. Your birthday is a prime example of what not to use. From the time you are born, your DOB is used frequently in many places (doctor’s offices, on applications, social media, etc). This is basically inviting hackers to infiltrate your accounts because of how easy it is to guess. Another thing to pay attention to is the use of password variations on multiple sites and apps. This is easy to figure out, even more so when the person has seen the variation of the password somewhere else. 

Don’t Keep A Password For Too Long

Experts might have different opinions on much time should pass before you change a password. There are some organizations that require their employees to update their passwords a few times a year. You might even change your own personal passwords from time to time. The password is unique to you, but it still needs to be secure. If anyone else knows your password and you don’t want them to, many experts unanimously agree that you change it.

Do Use An Easy To Remember Password

We previously mentioned that short, random passwords are a no-go since hackers will have an easier time guessing them. Instead, use a secure password that meets the character requirements, while also embedding special characters in there. Try using something that’s super specific to your lifestyle. If it’s personalized the right way, it will make it much harder for a computer to crack. 

Do Use A Password Manager

Password managers have the ability to store your commonly used passwords. Meaning you don’t need to remember all of the passwords you use. The only thing that needs to be stored in your memory bank is the password for the password manager tool. Use something secure and easy to remember. If you need further assistance in finding a reputable password manager, click here to see what your options are.

Do Use A Different Secure Password For All Of Your Accounts

We get it. It can be overwhelming to come up with a unique password for all of your accounts as it’s not a guarantee that you will remember them all. When using a password manager tool, this eliminates that hassle, so there is no viable excuse for password duplication when these resources are within arm’s reach. Since a password manager removes the responsibility of remembering all of your secure passwords manually, get creative as you want, but still adhere to the minimum guidelines for password creation. 

Do Get Creative With Security Question Answers

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your security question answers. Instead of directly answering a security question prompt, come up with your own answer (even if it has nothing to do with that question). For instance, if the question is “what’s your mother’s maiden name?” you can use the name of a movie character as the answer. That way, if someone has your personal information and is attempting to break into your account, it won’t be as easy for them to accomplish.

Our IT Professionals Will Educate You On Security Measures

RHYNO Networks will align with your organization to implement advanced security measures, in order to protect the infrastructure and ecosystem of your business. To get started, contact us today! 

Secure Passwords