Hack Resistant Passwords Keep Your Data Safer

Creating strong passwords is an effective way to keep your data safe from hackers and breaches.

By Leah Golden

 

Data breaches don’t just happen to someone else. As of November 2017, there have been 1,140 data breaches nationwide, exposing more than 171 million records, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. Most states, including Texas, have adopted laws that require companies to notify their customers if they experience a data breach. But, companies can’t tell you about a breach before it happens. Creating strong passwords can help keep your online accounts safer.

 

What counts as “strong”?

Advice about passwords has changed. Passwords eight or more characters long are still considered strong. However, uppercase letters and special characters (!, @ and $) are no longer recommended. Instead, phrases of random words are suggested because they are harder to hack and easier for you to remember. The change will help you avoid creating passwords that meet the old security recommendations but are still easy to hack, such as “passw0rd”, “zaq1zaq1” and others.

 

Create a passphrase

Using a passphrase also makes it easier to create longer passwords. For example, the passphrase “fishmicrowaverainbow” is stronger than “Pa$$w0rd”. If you start using this type of passphrase, keep in mind that your bank, utility company and other online accounts may still require capital letters and special characters. However, “F!shmicrowaverainbow” can meet those requirements and still be memorable.

 

Mix it up

If you use the same password across multiple accounts, you’re not alone. According to a 2016 Pew study, 45% of people who had trouble keeping up with passwords reuse them. A password manager program can help. The program can create stronger, unique passwords your accounts while you just have to remember one.

Personal Finance