How to keep your passwords safe?
Howdy, y’all! how are y’all been doing?!
Today, let’s talk about Passwords! sshhh!! DO NOT share them with no one except if you really trust the other person.
Any who, today we’ll share how to keep our precious passwords safe.
Introduction
In the world we today live in, privacy is something that’s not quite private anymore. With almost every person with ill intent after your data and privacy, it becomes a necessity that you keep your computer and your documents safe and out of reach off of those trying to have unauthorized access. And generally, we do it via having passwords to prevent those prying eyes from spying on our precious documents/files.
Remember, my awesome fellow Texan, that your and your family’s protection is your responsibility. And of course, it is my responsibility to help you carry out your responsibility in any way I can, by keeping you informed.
So the NUMBER 1 rule – have a password! kidding! haha although this should go without saying. You should have a different password for each of your device, document, or anything you don’t want others to access to.
Now, the Rule 1:
1. Use Strong Passwords
Whenever you create a password, make sure it isn’t very predictable. And no, never use “1234”. There are software out there that hackers can use which provides them with a list of thousands of predictable / already (elsewhere) used passwords. And yup, there are even automated programs that try each of those passwords in no time to breach and access your files.
Therefore, never have predictable passwords
My favorite trick is to put in totally random letters (in both upper and lower cases) and special characters. Oh and I keep your passwords longer or at least 12 characters.
2. Avoid Password Hints
Yes, I agree it helps you remember the password just in case you forget them. But that’s what you don’t want. Because if you can remember the password by looking at the hint, there’s a chance someone else might crack it too.
What I like to do is, fill up my hints with crazy, meaningless answers. haha
so if it asks -“What was the name of your first pet?”, my answer would be the name of someone I dislike! haha KIDDING! I love everyone!
Anywho, avoid hints. Your password must have nothing to do with your hints AT ALL!
3. Use of Password Managers
Password managers both suggest and keep note of all the good passwords. The best part? Well, let me give you an example. You happen to visit an authentic website “www.example.com” and you sign up/login with your credentials. Your credentials get stored with your password manager, along with the domain of the website.
That means the next time you visit that site your credentials will only be put in those credential’s fields by the password manager if and only if the website is “www.example.com”.
This is really good because there have been instances where people were led into believing that they were on an authentic website, putting in their bank details, but it was just a look-alike website.
Although what I love to do is, have paper and pen to note down my passwords and usernames. It gives me the peace of mind that even if somehow someday password manager just forgot my passwords I will still have my passwords written with me in the book
Some of the best password managers include – 1Password, Bitwarden, etc.
(I will write about Password managers later on some other day)
4. Change the Default Passwords
Some of the devices/documents already tend to come with a certain credentials. Not sure, if you have witnessed any of such but I can already recall a schooling service I had signed up for long time back that came with a certain login credentials (i.e. login ID and passwords were already given). Also, there’s a very popular website belonging to a reputable company (I won’t take names) but when you create an account there, they set the password for you. And then later on you would have to change the password yourself.
So what I’m trying to say is, if there’s any device or anything else that came with a certain already set credentials, then please get those default passwords changed.
Hackers can hack/ break into your house or business network by getting access to the Wi-Fi router that has a default company-provided password. And then they can have access to anything connected to your Wi-Fi network. Therefore, it’s always safe to have the default password changed.
5. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Even though passwords help keep unwanted eyes away, extra protection is never a harm.
By having a multifactor authentication, you get a double ironclad guarantee that no one else has access to your files, even if they somehow found the password.
Some apps have two-factor authentication, which works super good.
Other apps even give you an option to authorize your logging in through an Authenticator app. (By the way, Google Authenticator works like a charm.)
Plus, there are hardware security keys like YubiKeys that keep you secure. They do require a set-up on the first use, but after that it’s easy to use and real secure.
6. Never Change Passwords
Unless you feel your password has been leaked, do not change the password. Just create a good 12 or more than 12 characters password with random lower and upper case letters and random symbols, once and never change it.
Changing your passwords repeatedly increases the risk of your password getting leaked. But yes if you feel you like your password has been leaked, then you can go ahead and change your password.
And now this brings us to the last rules…
7. Never Re-use a Password
We are all well aware that some of us love to have the same set of credentials across multiple sites. I know, this makes it easier to access those websites, but it brings your website account to a very dangerous position as, God forbid, but if the credentials somehow got leaked, then all other of your accounts across different websites will be compromised too.
If you are the one doing it, I gently, and lovingly suggest that you change your credentials and then set a new strong password for each of your site accounts.
So, that was about it y’all. Hope y’all got to learn something new. So glad you took the time to read all the way. I don’t take it for granted.
See y’all with something fresh soon!
Thank you! Love y’all!
