World Password Day is a day to be aware of the important role passwords play in our digital lives. Here are five important tips:
- Use a unique password for each online account that consists of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. A strong password is one of the most important measures you can take to secure your online accounts. By using a unique password for each account, you can prevent a hacker from gaining access to multiple accounts if they manage to crack one password.
- Never use personal identifiers in your password. Avoid using any information that can be easily guessed or found online, such as your name, birth date, or phone number. Instead, use a combination of random letters, numbers, and symbols that are difficult to guess.
- Use a password manager to generate and store your passwords securely. Password managers are software applications that can generate and store complex passwords for you. They can also fill in login credentials automatically, saving you time and effort. Some popular password managers include KeepassXC, 1Password, and Bitwarden. KeepassXC is free and open source software while 1Password and Bitwarden are pais services.
- Use two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to provide two forms of identification before accessing an account. This could be a password and a fingerprint, a password and a one-time code sent to your phone, or a password and a security token. We recommend using an open-source 2FA app like FreeOTP+.
- Regularly check if your data has been compromised in a data breach by visiting haveibeenpwned.com. Have I Been Pwned is a free website that allows you to check if your email address has been included in any known data breaches. If your email address has been compromised, it’s important to change your password for that account immediately.