Passwords

DOS AND DON’TS

• NEVER use the same password for multiple sites. If one gets hacked, you can be sure they’ll try the same password on other sites. I would.
• Your password should be AT LEAST 16 characters, ideally longer.
• DON’T use names of family, pets, friends, postcodes, house numbers, phone numbers, birthdays, social security numbers.
• DON’T use similar passwords which most of their characters are same (eg tobeornottobefacebook, tobeornottobetwitter).
• If your laptop/phone has a fingerprint scanner, USE IT.
• NEVER access sensitive sites such as online banking when you’re on public WiFi.
• NEVER email passwords.
• CHANGE your password every quarter. I know it’s a hassle, but dealing with a hacked account is worse, trust me.
• Store your passwords on a password-protected spreadsheet, but only on a computer with up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware.
• If a provider offers 2-step authentication, USE IT.
• DON’T store passwords on the cloud.
• NEVER click a link from an email to get to your bank, PayPal or any other password-protected site. TYPE to address into the browser’s address bar or use a bookmark.
• CHANGE the default WiFi password on your home router.
• LOCK your phone/tablet/laptop when you’re not using them.
• USE a secondary email address for online shopping.

There are online services which store passwords, but I don’t use them. I’m sure they’re good, but I’m still nervous. If one site can be hacked, another one can, and if the online password site is hacked, then I’m truly stuffed.

It’s a pain, but it’s also my best defence.

 

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