Your first line of defense online is creating a strong, secure password to protect your computer, data and online accounts. This may seem like common sense but hackers have become expert password crackers. Hackers are always searching for the weakest link possible in order to get access to your data. That weakest link is your password!
Here are some basic guidelines for creating a strong password:
- Incorporate punctuation and numbers
- Use both lower and upper case letters
- Make the password at least 8 characters long
- Include one special character like ! @ # $ % & * ( ) – + = , <> : ; “ ‘ .
- Try to avoid personal information like birth date, Social Security number, phone numbers and addresses
If you don’t have a strong password, hackers can crack your password and potentially destroy or steal any personal information and accounts you may have. Even worse, your account could become spammed and begin to send out emails saying, “Click here to make $500 instantly!” We at FutureRanking.com understand the importance of strong passwords and create unique passwords for each client to ensure no hacking happens.
Just remember, a network is only as strong as its weakest password.
Amy Sanford on Creating Unique Passwords
FutureRanking.com Social Media Manager
Ya hacking is not cool! Make sure your passwords are secure, especially for your personal info.
When it comes down to it most passwords that are “hacked” by social engineering, and the ones that aren’t are commonly done with either a database scrape (programmers, remember to use destructive encryption whenever possible) or by brute force, in which case length is your biggest defense. With that in mind this seems relevant: http://xkcd.com/936/
Thanks for the share!
Nancy.R