If your passwords look something like “123456” or “password” then you’ve got some work to do. They might be easy to remember but that also makes them easy to hack. Here are five ways to ensure your passwords are as strong as possible.
1. Make your password long.
Hackers use plenty of strategies for trying to get into your accounts. The most common way is to manually type in letters, numbers, and symbols to guess your password. The longer your password is, the harder it is to hack!
2. Make your password a nonsense phrase.
Long passwords are good. But passwords that include random words and phrases are WAY better.
3. Include numbers, symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters.
Randomly mix up symbols and numbers with letters. You could substitute numbers and letters like a zero for the letter O, or you could substitute symbols and letters, like a dollar sign for the letter S.
4. Do not reuse passwords.
If hackers successfully complete a large-scale hack, the list of compromised passwords are often leaked online. If your account is compromised, your information could easily be used to get into any other website that you use the same password for.
5. Change your passwords regularly.
The more sensitive your information is, the more often you should change your password. Once it is changed, don’t use that password again for a very long time.
