Just when you thought it was safe to keep the same, easy-to-remember password, you start getting messages from those in your contact list asking why you’re traveling overseas and are in “urgent need” of cash. This has been happening to a friend of mine more than she’d like the last few weeks, so I thought this was a perfect time of year to remind you that Halloween isn’t the only scary thing lurking about!
Hackers have nothing better to do than scour cyberspace, searching for easy accounts to hack into to cause grief and inconvenience for the account owner. If you’ve ever been an account-hacking victim, it’s time to give some serious thought to the strength of your passwords protecting those accounts.
I know it can be a hassle to come up with a password that’s not as easy to remember as your child’s name or birthday, but there are tons of resources out there to help you create more secure passwords and even keep track of them (after all, the most secure ones are usually the most difficult to remember).
Creating Strong Passwords
Start by looking over this list of tips provided by Microsoft.com. They offer keys to creating strong passwords, tips on creating a strong password you can remember, and common password pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve created a password, check its strength with Microsoft’s free password checker.
Having a tough time coming up with a password on your own? You might want to try this free random password generator tool on the PC Tools website. Granted, the password created might not be easy to remember, but it’ll be a lot more secure than your child’s name!
Storing Your Passwords Securely
One of the tips from Microsoft is not to use the same password for everything. So how do you securely keep track of and store them all? There are several applications you can purchase on a subscription basis that securely encrypt and store your passwords. Here are some to get you started.
Remember, the best time to check your passwords is before any of your accounts are hacked so invest some time this week to at least check the strength of your current passwords using the free password checker. And if your passwords could use a tune-up, use the tips and resources available to help keep your accounts safe from the hackers. Oh, and think twice before sending cash to your email “friends” claiming to be traveling abroad on an emergency trip!
Hackers have nothing better to do than scour cyberspace, searching for easy accounts to hack into to cause grief and inconvenience for the account owner. If you’ve ever been an account-hacking victim, it’s time to give some serious thought to the strength of your passwords protecting those accounts.
I know it can be a hassle to come up with a password that’s not as easy to remember as your child’s name or birthday, but there are tons of resources out there to help you create more secure passwords and even keep track of them (after all, the most secure ones are usually the most difficult to remember).
Creating Strong Passwords
Start by looking over this list of tips provided by Microsoft.com. They offer keys to creating strong passwords, tips on creating a strong password you can remember, and common password pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve created a password, check its strength with Microsoft’s free password checker.
Having a tough time coming up with a password on your own? You might want to try this free random password generator tool on the PC Tools website. Granted, the password created might not be easy to remember, but it’ll be a lot more secure than your child’s name!
Storing Your Passwords Securely
One of the tips from Microsoft is not to use the same password for everything. So how do you securely keep track of and store them all? There are several applications you can purchase on a subscription basis that securely encrypt and store your passwords. Here are some to get you started.
- Password Genie: They offer a free 30-day trial with a $15 annual subscription fee (the site states this is for a “limited time”).
- Roboform is another application to consider. They also offer a free trial, with three different versions available to purchase on an annual subscription base.
Remember, the best time to check your passwords is before any of your accounts are hacked so invest some time this week to at least check the strength of your current passwords using the free password checker. And if your passwords could use a tune-up, use the tips and resources available to help keep your accounts safe from the hackers. Oh, and think twice before sending cash to your email “friends” claiming to be traveling abroad on an emergency trip!
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