Passwords are your first line of defense against cybercriminals and data breaches
Passwords and sensitive data can be kept in a secure location preferably not on your device or written down on a tablet at your desk.
Password manager is a great way to do this and it requires a unique passphrase in order to unlock and keep things more secured. Make sure to use a long, unique and complex passphrase for each one of our accounts.
Turn on your Multi-Factor Authentication options on applications that provide it and this can help prevent cyber vandals from obtaining access to your accounts.
Cybercrime is on the rise and passwords are no longer enough to keep your accounts safe. Passphrases are much stronger ways to log in and are becoming more popular now that passwords are much easier to crack.
Passphrase vs Passwords: Which is More Secure?
Passphrase is a series of words or other characters that are connected to create a full phrase or a sentence. Unlike a password, which is typically just a single word or phrase, a passphrase is usually much longer and can be made up of multiple words, phrases and even sentences. Passphrases are much harder for hackers to guess than passwords making them much stronger to protect against personal data breaches.
- I love my twin!
- Dorothy lives in Memphis, TN
- Here comes the sun
- Whatever will be will be
Never Reuse Passwords
If you are using the same password for multiple accounts, a hacker just only need to crack that one password to gain access to everything else. Your passphrase is the key to your online accounts, so make the hacker’s job a lot harder by strengthening your passwords/phrases and account protection.
Learn to Keep Your Login and Password Safe
Each time we go to log into one of our devices, we are prompted to log into it first from our phones, to our tablets, to our computers. We may be using a passphrase, password, swipe pattern, a code or fingerprint authentication applications. It is important to know that hackers can crack most passwords within a matter of seconds with the right tools. So, our goal is to make it as difficult as possible for cybercriminals to steal your identity and your hard-earned money!
Best Practices for Creating a Strong Passphrase
So how do you create a secure passphrase? Let us talk about layers of complexity. Choosing multiple small words creates greater complexity. Longer passphrases are beneficial, but not so long that it does not fit or you forget the details. Instead, make it memorable, something you could never forget.
- Mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols and spaces.
- At least 12-20 characters long.
- Avoid using easily guessed words like “
password‘ or “your birthdate“ - Do not use personal information that can be easily found online.
- Change your passphrase regularly to stay one step ahead of the criminals.
When you have a passphrase or sentence that has at least 12 characters long, it is highly unlikely that a hacker can crack the phrase before you change it again.
So following these best practices would help you to use the internet safely, so you do not become a victim of it.
