A strong password is the cornerstone of a safe online experience both for you and your company. But how to create a safe password? Keep reading to learn more.
Discover Whether Your Password Has Been Compromised
Begin by finding out whether your passwords have been compromised in a data breach. You can do this easily using a couple of free online tools: Google’s Password Checkup and Mozilla’s Firefox Monitor. In both cases, you have to enter your email address, while Google will also ask your password. Even if it turns out that your password hasn’t been compromised, review it keeping the next tips in mind.
Stay Away From the Obvious
Hackers are determined and resourceful, so it’s essential to make things as difficult as possible for them. This means steering clear of obvious passwords, beginning with the word “password” itself and including all its variations, including “pa55word” or “passw0rd.” Also, avoid using sequential numbers (for example 134567) and don’t use personal information such as your date of birth to create your password.
Thwart the Two Most Common Hacking Strategies
Hackers use two basic methods to guess your password. The first type of attack, called brute force attack, consists in trying several passwords until the hackers find one that works. In a dictionary attack, on the other hand, cyber criminals enter systematically every item in a dictionary of words or common phrases until they gain access to your account.
These are some steps you can take to frustrate brute force attacks:
- Use long passwords
- Use a mix of characters (letters, numbers, and special characters)
- Again, avoid sequential numbers, or keys that are close to each other on the keyboard (for example, qwerty)
You can avoid dictionary attacks by using passwords that include two or more words, preferably chosen randomly, mixed with other characters.
Since hackers often use previously leaked passwords to create custom dictionaries, it’s a good idea to check the password you intend to use by entering it on Have I Been Pwned, a database of passwords known to have been compromised in data breaches.
More Business Tips and Ideas
Read these previous posts for more business tips that cover every aspect of the management of your organization.
- 4 Easy and effective holiday marketing ideas
- Watch out for hacking attacks this holiday season
- How to deal with holiday and pandemic stress
- 4 New Year’s resolutions for your business
- How to Manage a Hybrid Team
- Time Management: 3 Essential Skills.
About the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
At the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GRHCC), our core mission is supporting small businesses and economic development with advocacy, business referrals, marketing opportunities, training programs, student internships, and scholarships.
Contact us today by email at info@grhcc.com, telephone (951-965-9115), through our social media accounts, or click here to join and start enjoying the benefits of membership today!