When it comes to password security, being proactive is your best protection. And once you're set up, you can choose to register your device or browser so you don't need to keep verifying it each time you sign in. While it's common and convenient to receive these codes in a text message to your mobile phone or in a call to your landline phone, it's simple enough for a hacker to steal your phone number through SIM swap fraud and then intercept your verification code.Ī much safer way to receive verification codes is for you to generate and fetch them yourself using an authentication app like Authy, Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. This way, even if a hacker does uncover your passwords, without your trusted device (like your phone) and the verification code that confirms it's really you, they won't be able to access your account. Google's Authenticator app steps up your security. If thieves do steal your password, you can still keep them from gaining access to your account with two-factor authentication (also called two-step verification or 2FA), a security safeguard that requires you enter a second piece of information that only you have (usually a one-time code) before the app or service logs you in. Use two-factor authentication… but try to avoid text message codes The reason? Many of us, by being forced to change our passwords every few months, would fall into bad habits of creating easy-to-remember passwords or writing them on sticky notes and putting them on our monitors. No need to periodically reset your passwordįor years, changing your passwords every 60 or 90 days was a long-accepted practice, because the thinking went that was how long it took to crack a password.īut Microsoft now recommends that unless you suspect your passwords have been exposed, you don't need to periodically change them. If you want to check if a password you're considering using has already been exposed in a hack, go to Have I Been Pwned and enter the password. Hackers can effortlessly use previously stolen or otherwise exposed passwords in automated login attempts called credential stuffing to break into an account. For example, PasswordOne, PasswordTwo (these are both bad for multiple reasons).īy picking a unique password for each account, hackers that crack into one account can't use it to get access to all the rest. The same goes for modifying a root password that changes with the addition of a prefix or suffix. If someone uncovers your reused password for one account, they have the key to every other account you use that password for. It's worth repeating that reusing passwords across different accounts is a terrible idea. Here's What Experts Say Really Helps Don't recycle your passwords, seriously Read more: Strong Passwords Aren't as Easy as Adding 123. A longer passphrase composed of unconnected words can be difficult to remember, however, which is why you should consider using a password manager. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and security expert Brian Krebs, among many others, advise using a passphrase made up of three or four random words for added security. Longer passwords are better: 8 characters is a starting pointĨ characters are a great place to start when creating a strong password, but longer logins are better. But with so many accounts to keep track of, it's tempting (and incredibly easy) to fall into the bad habit of using the same login credentials for everything. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.Ī strong password is essential when it comes to your online security, and you need a unique one for each of your social media, bank accounts, streaming services and apps. It is possible that your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms in this advertising widget and the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser which will be presented to you prior to making a purchase. We make reasonable efforts to ensure that information in the featured advertisements is up to date, each advertiser featured in this widget is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its offer details. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, this advertising widget does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. You will not be charged for engaging with this advertisement. This advertising widget is powered by Navi and contains advertisements that Navi may be paid for in different ways.
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