These days, we have dozens and dozens of passwords, many of which contain very sensitive personal information. Whether it’s your social security number or your credit card information, you don’t want that information getting out.
It’s important to take things seriously when creating a password. The password you choose might determine your financial health if there are hackers trying to access your accounts.
We’re going to cover some mistakes that people often make today, hopefully helping you to protect information that you don’t want to get out.
1. Obvious or Simple Passwords
The first thing to avoid is something that someone could guess. You might think you’re being tricky, but if it’s a series of personal names or numbers, you might be putting yourself at risk.
Avoid family member names, birthdays, street addresses, pet names, or celebrity interests. Further, never use the classic “password1234.”
2. Duplicate Passwords
The biggest failure in password management is using the same password multiple times. This is especially true for accounts that contain financial information.
If one is hacked, the other is just as vulnerable. Keep an archive of all of your passwords so you don’t have to use the same one twice. You can use services like www.logmeonce.com to situate your passwords where you can find and remember them.
3. Leaving Passwords Forever
How many of us have an email address from ten to fifteen years ago?
Whether or not we use that address, do we know what the password is? Have we ever changed that password?
What are the odds that our teenage selves put our personal information such as a social security number somewhere in that archive of messages?
To avoid the complications that come with a hacked email or website account, it’s always a good idea to change your password every month or so. It might seem tedious, but it’s worth it when you think about the costs of leaving the password there for all to hack.
4. Not Deleting Unnecessary Accounts
When you make a purchase on an errant site or cease to need an account anymore, just delete it.
There are ways to enter various accounts through a single account, so those untended accounts could just be unlocked doors into your identity. You might be safe, but you never know.
Try to run through your accounts in your head or use your email to find sites that might have an open account on them. Get rid of the ones you don’t need and spend time making another account if you ever need to use that site again.
5. Not Heeding Data Security Warnings
When some data security message comes your way from a trusted site or service, be sure to listen.
A lot of us take these things lightly and don’t change passwords or make the requisite calls about our accounts. Those warnings often mean that your information has been jeopardized and that it’s time to make some important changes.
Doing so could be the difference between getting hacked and staying safe.
Need Some Help Creating a Password?
Creating a password is a little difficult to do when you consider the stakes. It’s possible to create and remember a strong password, though.
We’re here to help you out with all of the ins and outs of managing a safe online presence. Explore our site for more insight into password management, data security, and other options for you to protect information.