Staying safe online and keeping your personal information out of the hands of computer hackers is a top priority in the age of the Internet. At Unlimited Security, we want to boost the security of our customers in the virtual world, along with the real world. Changing your passwords to your various online accounts can be a helpful tool to protect your identity and your finances. We would like to share with you some tips from LifeHacker about how to best change your passwords to prevent anyone from being able to log into your accounts.
Why should I change my passwords often?
To limit the amount of time that a stolen password can be used by a hacker, you should change your passwords every few months. As long as the cyber thief has your correct password, he or she has access to your account. Since you do not always know when someone has stolen your password, it is a good idea to change your passwords often.
What are some examples of strong passwords?
Never create a password that has your name, your family’s names, or your company name within it. A strong password is at least eight characters long and should contain at least one number or special character such as an exclamation point. When you are changing passwords, you will want to make up a new one that is significantly different from your old ones.
Should certain types of accounts be changed more often than others?
Yes, you should regularly change your passwords to social media websites like Facebook and Instagram, especially after you log into these sites from a computer or other device that is not your own personal device. You should also frequently change the password to any job-related accounts. Another type of account that is recommended for regular password changes is any communication sites that do not have two-factor authentication, which includes email, instant messaging, and conferencing services. In fact, two-factor authentication should always be used when it is available, as it is on popular sites like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, because it asks you for more than just your password. Usually, you will get a second code text messaged to your cell phone after you enter your password, and you must enter that second code before you can access your account.
What other types of security options do I have for online accounts?
Like enabling two-factor authentication, you can also strengthen your overall online security by making your password recovery questions un-guessable and by backing up all of your data regularly. Another smart idea is to create a unique password for every account you have. If you have any duplicate passwords, you should change those immediately.
Want to know more about online security? Get in touch with Unlimited Security to ask our staff for more Internet safety tips.