11 Nov 5 Tips for Increasing Password Strength

In the early days of the Internet, a person could use their real name and create a short, simple password. These days, usernames are long and complex, and passwords are crazy, impossible-to-remember combinations of letters and numbers. While it may be inconvenient, the complexity is for the user’s protection. Businesses not only have to deal with large-scale data breaches, but they have to contend with enterprising hackers. Hack-proof passwords do not exist, but users can follow the tips below to make a more secure, solid, and safe password. A safe password is especially important for the use in a secure data room.

Include a Variety of Characters

Most sites demand at least eight characters for password strength, but some websites are now asking for 12 characters. Passwords should include a mixture of letters, numbers, and special characters as well as spaces. Additionally, users should stop using recognizable words in favor of random combinations that are harder to guess. While a harder password is difficult to remember, it can help keep hackers away.

Omit Personal Data

Most people want to create passwords that are easy to remember, so they choose one that has personal meaning. However, hackers expect this, and they find ways to exploit it. Most people do not think about how much personal information is available online—information that can give hackers a big part of some common passwords. To avoid this and to increase password strength, do not use street names, significant dates, nicknames, or any other personal information that is easily uncovered.

Use Different Passwords for Each Account

This is a hard sell because most people have several accounts they use frequently. Today’s password managers allow users to enter all of their commonly-used passwords, and all are controlled by a master password. These tools are beneficial, but the user must take steps to find the answer to the question “how secure is my password?”

Do Not Repeat Passwords

Many sites prompt users to periodically change passwords, and they should fight the urge to recycle an old password. Once a person uses a password, they should not reuse it. To avoid redundancy and vulnerability to hacking, data room users should create a new, secure password with every reset.

No Password Sharing

This tip seems obvious, but it is surprising how many people make this mistake. Since people share ATM PINs, it’s not really surprising that they share passwords with friends, family members, and spouses. While these people may be trustworthy, it’s just not worth the risk. The securest password is useless if it’s shared. When someone has the password, they can not only access the account, they can potentially let sensitive information fall into the wrong hands.

Most people assume that their sensitive data is secure as long as it’s password-protected. However, this is not the case anymore. Today’s hackers are more devious than ever, and there are many ways to crack passwords. By following the tips above, users can increase password strength and protect their important information.