Even in 2019 with all of the advances in both cybercrime and cybersecurity that have come about, the best defense that you can use to protect your sensitive data is still a strong, secure password. Unfortunately, many of the passwords that people end up using aren’t nearly as strong as they should be. If you would like to ensure that your data is kept as secure as possible, here are a few important password management and creation best practices that you should employ.
Download a Password Manager
The number one reason why most people’s passwords aren’t as strong as they should be is the fact that strong passwords are, by nature, typically more difficult to remember. It’s recommended that you use a unique password for every account, avoid reusing old passwords, and avoid using commonly-used words and numbers such as birthdates and pet’s names. Of course, following all of these instructions can also make it very difficult to keep up with all of your passwords. Thankfully, however, If you make use of a password manager you only have to actually memorize one single password. Password managers such as 1Password and LastPass will store your usernames and passwords in an encrypted vault then auto-fill the correct information for you each time you log-in using a device that the password manager is downloaded onto. Accessing this vault of passwords requires you to know only a single password, meaning that you can create strong passwords for all of your other accounts without worrying about whether or not you will be able to remember them in the future.
Make Use of Two-Factor Authentification
If you have the option to enable two-factor authentification as a requirement for log-in, doing so can help keep your data much more secure. Two-factor authentification can take several different forms, but one of the most common forms of two-factors authentification is a code that is sent to your mobile device that must be entered along with your password in order for you to log into your account. The benefits of this security measure are quite obvious,  and accounts that are secured via two-factor authentification are almost impossible to breach.
Secure Your Network
If you are using an unsecured network, it’s much easier for hackers to steal passwords that are saved on your device. While the importance of securing your Wi-Fi network with a strong password is often overlooked, doing so is one of the most important steps that you can take if you want to ensure the sensitive data that is communicated across your network is kept secure as well.
Use Passphrases for Stronger Passwords
According to multiple studies, passphrases that consist of multiple words are much more secure than passwords – even when those passwords include numbers and special characters. So, for example, a passphrase along the lines of “bread fire kitten bucket” will be much more secure than a password such as “ki11en65$$”. Best of all, passphrases are also easier to remember than complex passwords as well.
Conclusion
Whether you own a company and are teaching password management best practices to your employees or you are simply looking for a way to keep your own personal data more secure, there are a number of useful tips and tricks that you can use to create and manage passwords that will be as effective as possible when it comes to keeping hackers at bay. By following the tips outlined above, you should be well on your way to creating strong, secure passwords that will leave even the most talented hackers unable to access your sensitive data.
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