Today being Data Privacy Day and all, it's a perfect time to revisit that most
basic element of internet security -- the password. Just because
your password replaces an "E" with a "3" and ends in an
exclamation point doesn't make you invincible. Here are some
pointers to see how secure your password is and then pick a newer, stronger
password if needed.
How you can beef up your password security
FIRST OF ALL, MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT USING ONE OF THESE PASSWORDS
An
analysis of hacked Yahoo accounts reveals some interesting trends in
commonly-chosen passwords, reports The Star.
"123456"
is at the top of the list, followed by "qwerty," "welcome,"
"ninja," and "abc123." If these sound like passwords of
yours, it's time to make a change.
MAKE THEM LONG
Longer
passwords are obviously harder to crack. Make sure you're consistently
exceeding the minimum length requirement on passwords that you pick.
REMEMBER A COMPLICATED PASSWORD
Lifehacker
offers the following tip to make sure you're using a relatively complex
password while having no problem remembering it.
"I
always tell people to use a sentence. I drive a 1978 Volkswagen! = IDA78VW! or
Living At Home Since 1972 Sux = L@HS72SX"
DON'T USE THE SAME PASSWORD FOR EVERYTHING
If
someone successfully cracks one password, it'll be the first password he
guesses for your next web service. Make sure you're using several different
passwords to prevent this from happening.
INVENT A SYSTEM TO GENERATE NEW PASSWORDS
Use
a simple rule set to generate new passwords for each service you're logging
into. Start with a base password and have a rule for attaching characters from
the service onto the base.
For
example, if your base is "a12b" and you want to log into Gmail, you
might throw "gml" on the end, making your complete password
"a12bgml."
CHANGE IT OFTEN
Switching
passwords a few times a year makes it even more difficult for your account to
be hacked.
USE TWO-STEP VERIFICATION FOR GOOGLE
Google
offers two-step verification for your account -- once a month you'll receive a
text message that you'll have to type in before entering your normal password.
It's one more thing we recommend doing to keep you safe online.
WHEN YOU'RE ALL DONE, TEST YOUR PASSWORD
You
can use a site like How Secure Is My Password to make sure your
password will stand up to would-be hackers.
