A strong password is required for online accounts and transactions to secure your personal information from being hacked or compromised. For instance, if you wish to create an email address or a social media profile, you’ll need to set a password for security upon signing up. In some cases, you also need to answer additional questions to guarantee that you’ll be the only one who can access your account.
If you use a weak password to create your accounts online, other users who intend to use your personal information for illegal practices may effortlessly hack your account. Thus, you should make a strong combination to prevent unauthorized people from accessing your data.
Here are tips to help you in creating a strong password:
1. Do Not Use Your Personal Information
A weak password usually contains words or numbers that can easily be associated with you. For example, your birthday or name can be searched easily and used to guess your account’s password.
Hence, the best way to prevent someone from accessing your account or profile is by refraining from using your personal information. Try not to use significant dates or terms since these are easy to guess. Your loved ones’ birthday or anniversary dates are also easy to find, especially if they also have online accounts. Thus, do not use these details for your passwords as well.
2. Hire An IT Support Service
If you’re creating online accounts for business or professional purposes, it may be ideal to hire a third party to help you manage your profile and transactions. For instance, if you wish to have a centralized platform for your business clients and employees, you’ll need to build extra security measures since your sensitive data may become more vulnerable to hacking.
Accessing a wireless network or downloading files can compromise the security of your data, so it’s best to utilize software that can monitor and secure all your online transactions. Using managed IT services will make it easier for you to navigate the web without worrying about your cybersecurity. Additionally, some IT companies can help you update your passwords and online credentials regularly to ensure all your accounts are secured.
3. Avoid Common Patterns
There may be instances when a website will ask you to sign up before you can access their products and services. For example, a shopping site may only allow you to purchase products once you create a profile. You’d need to input your details and password to continue using the site for future transactions. Since setting up an account can be a lengthy process, you may want to input the easiest password you can think of to finish your online shopping transaction. However, doing so may put your personal data at risk.
Thus, it’s vital to make a strong password combination, regardless of where you’re using it for. It’s best to avoid a typical number and letter combination since it’s very easy to guess. For example, using consecutive numbers like ‘123’ or capitalizing the first letter of a word makes it easier for hackers or spammers to unlock your password. Instead, you can make your code unique by inserting a number in the middle of your password or capitalizing a random letter in your security code.
How To Remember Your Unique Password
Although an excellent password will ensure your online accounts are secure, it’ll also make it more difficult for you to remember them. If you don’t remember your security code and make too many login attempts, the website you’re trying to access may lock your account permanently to protect your information.
So, you need to ensure you’re also taking extra steps to remember the passwords you make for each site. One effective way to avoid forgetting these passwords is by writing them down. You can make a list of your usernames and passwords for all the websites you’ve signed up for. This way, you can quickly check the spelling of your code whenever you need to log in. However, you have to keep this list safe, away from the prying eyes of other people.
You can also allow your device to remember your login details, so you don’t need to input them every time you view your online account. However, you should only do this on your personal devices. For example, you can opt to activate automatic login when using your smartphone or personal laptop since you’re the only one using them.
Another helpful tip is to memorize your passwords purposely. Once you familiarize yourself with your login credentials, you won’t have to list them down anymore.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, many transactions like purchasing goods or paying your bills can be done online. In some cases, you’ll be required to create an account with your personal information and password before you can proceed with any online activity. So, if you want to stay safe online, take your time when creating your passwords or security codes and ensure they’re difficult to crack.
