Cyber security is an increasingly important concern in today's world. With more and more of our personal and financial information being stored online, it's crucial to take steps to protect ourselves from cyber criminals. One of the most basic yet important steps we can take is to create a strong and secure password.
Unfortunately, many people still use weak and easily guessable passwords, such as "123456" or "password." These types of passwords are incredibly easy for hackers to crack, leaving your accounts vulnerable to attack. In this blog, we'll discuss some tips for creating a more secure password.
- Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
A strong password should be a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable patterns such as "qwerty" or "abc123." Instead, mix it up and use a combination of random characters.
- Avoid using personal information.
Avoid using easily guessable information such as your name, birthdate, or address as part of your password. Cyber criminals can easily find this information online and use it to crack your password.
- Make it long.
The longer your password, the harder it is to crack. Aim for a minimum of 12 characters, but ideally, you should aim for 16 characters or more.
- Use a passphrase.
Consider using a passphrase instead of a password. A passphrase is a longer string of words, such as "correcthorsebatterystaple." This is much harder to crack than a simple password.
- Don't reuse passwords.
It's important to use a unique password for each account you have. If a cyber criminal manages to crack one of your passwords, they can then use that password to gain access to your other accounts.
- Use a password manager.
Consider using a password manager to generate and store your passwords. Password managers can create strong and unique passwords for each account and store them securely.
In conclusion, creating a strong and secure password is one of the simplest and most important steps you can take to protect yourself online. By following these tips, you can create a password that is much harder for cyber criminals to crack.
About Abhiram Vanamali
Technical Writing Executive Lead
GDSC IARE