World Password Day is a day to recognize the importance of passwords. Ok, so not many non-IT people will care, but they’ll more than likely hear from their IT staff. In today’s world, technology continually evolves and with it so have cyber attacks. It is important for everyone to understand that your sensitive data can be vulnerable and possibly accessed by others. So even though you may not be an IT guru or even a fan of IT, it’s part of your world because passwords allow us to access online shopping, dating, banking, social media, private work and life communications.
Today – World Password Day - is a great day to remind you of some of the basics that make up good password policies and management.
1. Change your passwords every 90 days, at a minimum. Change it more often if you regularly access sensitive data or if you are a system administrator.
2. Your password needs to be complex enough to avoid being hacked. This usually means a minimum of eight characters, and if you’re allowed, use more. You should also include a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
3. Avoid using things in your password that could be easily guessed, such as your first and last name, your kid’s names, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
4. Some people find it easier to remember a phrase rather than just a single word, just remember to not use spaces.
5. Never write down or share your password.
Your password is your personal line of defense, so keep it strong, keep it safe, keep you secure. Happy World Password Day!
