With the rise in fraudulent activity, we want to share security tips. A great way to start is by safeguarding every device you use. All phones, laptops, i-pads, or other devices in your home and/or office which use a password, face ID, or passcode require your frequent attention to ensure you’re using best practices.
- Are all your passwords the same?
- Are they less than 16 characters?
- Are they only lowercase or all uppercase letters?
- Does your password contain personal information?
- Are you using Password1 or another simple password?
Yikes, if you answered "yes" to one or more of these, your passwords need your attention. You should consider changing your passwords frequently and using different, complex passwords for all logins.
Creating a Secure and Complex Password
Secure passwords are usually very long and complex. They not only have upper and lowercase letters but also numbers and symbols as well. Complex passwords don’t have to be complicated. Creating one could be as easy as,
- Think of three to four random words.
- Instead of using spaces between each word, add symbols and numbers.
- Randomly throughout the password, place an uppercase letter.
Done! That is a complex password and much more secure than most smaller passwords.
Most secure password holders enable two-factor authentication for all applications and devices. Usually this can be found under the security settings in the device or application you're using and could be as simple as a text message to your cell phone every time you log in. This is a second layer of protection in the event your password is compromised.
Lastly and most importantly never share credentials with anyone, especially over the phone or internet. You may think you know who you are communicating with but if they are asking for password information, this should be a red flag to end the conversation. Follow-up with the company, using a published phone number found on a search engine or the company's website.
Be safe. Create a complex password.