HOW TO CREATE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PASSWORDS

Security breaches are happening at a far higher rate than ever before, so it’s important that you have passwords in place that are hard to crack for even the savviest web hacker.

HOW TO CREATE A SECURE PASSWORD

Creating a secure password can seem like a daunting task, especially when you have to recreate the effort for multiple accounts. Although online password generators are a great tool to use, the reality is that you probably won’t be able to remember a password like f294^lKRii1572. And passwords that you can’t remember are useless.

PASSPHRASE

Passphrases are more secure than passwords because they are longer, more complex, and tend to be easier to remember. A secure passphrase starts with a phrase that you will remember. It could be anything meaningful to you. Once you decide on your phrase, you will then alter it with various numbers and special characters.

For example, let’s say that you decide you want your passphrase to be “I am proud to have flown for Delta Air Lines for 30 years.”

  1. First, write it out entirely as it is: I am proud to have flown for Delta Air Lines for 30 years
  2. Next, take the first letter of each word: iapthffdalf30y
  3. Finally, make it unique with special characters: i@pthffd@lf30y



Congratulations! You now have a unique and secure password. Remember, you never want to recycle your passwords. Each online account should have its own unique password.

STORE YOUR NEW PASSWORDS SAFELY

Now that you know how to create an effective password, it’s time to learn how you can safely store them. Essentially, using the passphrase method is meant to better help you remember your passwords. But if you still need a secure place to store your passwords, then a Password Manager is an option you should consider. Remember, keeping a list of your passwords next to your computer or even within your cell phone can leave your accounts vulnerable for a hacker to initiate an attack.

PASSWORD MANAGER

A Password Manager allows you to store your passwords in an encrypted database and will eliminate the need for you to remember multiple passwords. The only password you will need to remember is the one to gain access into your Password Manager.

TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your online accounts. If you implement two-factor authentication, a hacker will have to enter your password as well as pass a second test to gain access into your account. It is recommended that you use two-factor authentication whenever it is offered.

When your digital data is unprotected, your entire financial plan is at risk. Reduce your risk of a cyber attack by reviewing your account passwords and making any necessary adjustments today.