Passwords: Too Tough to Crack: Part 2

For part 1 of our password series, go here

Step 2: Change your password regularly. I know, we've all been told that one before. But who actually does it? Before I got into the anti-malware game, I used to use the same password for years... until finally the account got hacked. This is why it is important to change passwords my friends. The hacked account was not a bank account, good for me. But it could have been and I could have lost money. I'm not trying to scare anyone or anything, but that is just the simple fact. And in theory, passwords are harder to guess or crack if they are changing every once in a while. This is why some network administrators have strict rules about changing passwords, it's a liability issue. If you can't keep yourself secure on a network, that makes you everybody's issue. I myself recommend changing passwords at least once every year. You can put it on your calender so that you will remember a year from now.

Step 3: Make your password unique for every account. If you have the same password for more then one account, it means that if one password is cracked, it increases the odds that the hacking will ruin your whole day. If you leave the keys to your house, your safe and your car around and they get stolen, your whole week is ruined.

Step 4: Use a password manager. If your heart rate has elevated quite a bit from the thought of having to remember all of those unique passwords, here is some relief. A password manager is a piece of software that helps your organize all your passwords. A big benefit to this is that your passwords are stored in one place so you can assess them without having to go to several different things to find just the one password you are looking for. And the best part? You can assess them all with one master password. So instead of memorizing a lot of passwords, you only have to memorize one. But remember to have the password info up to date in the software if you use step 2. The last thing you want is to be locked out of all your accounts because you only have the old passwords. Most password managers encrypt your master password so that it is less likely to be hacked.

Password managers have some drawbacks. Because your master password is highly sought after. Because if someone can get one key to the safe that holds all of the keys to your locked doors, we have the same old issue again. Even so, password managers are still a good way to keep your passwords secure. So here are a few tips to keep that master password secure and where it belongs.

1. Always use a password manager that encrypts your passwords. This is where you are going to want to do some research to see what type of encryption is best for you.

2. Ensure your master password is both long and complex. Long and complex passwords are harder to crack, and they can only get safer if you make them longer and more complex. So how about we use that to our advantage with our master password?

3. Do not disclose your master password. EVER... Well, maybe if you are held at gunpoint. But it is unlikely that a mugger would ask for that.

4. Protect your computer from malware that could obtain your master password.

Stay tuned for part 3 with one more tip and the wrap up.