Proper Passwords For Proper Protection

How many of you use common terms as a password? How many of you never change your password? The answers to those questions are actually larger numbers than you would expect. 

In this age of online everything the first line of defense is a proper password. Think of your passwords as keys to everything you have, from your finances to your personal information.

What not to do:

1.  Never use a common term as a password (password is the number one used password)Read More Here
   
2. Don't use your Social Security Number
3. Don't use your address or name
4. Don't use anything that is viewed by the public on your social media outlets (i.e. kids names, birthdays, locations etc..)
5. Don't use a password with fewer than 8 characters
6. Don't use the same password everywhere
7. Never write down passwords and keep them near your computer or anywhere that if they are lost someone will know what they are.
8. Try not to send passwords via email or text (make a phone call or if you have to email or text it use separate emails for logins and passwords don't put it in the subject line. Or encrypt the email.)
9. Never give a stranger your password

1. Use capital and lower case letters
2. Use numbers and keyboard characters, (punctuation marks) when allowed
3. Replace letters with numbers that resemble them (like 3 for E)
4. Create as long of a password as you can (some sites have limits)
5. Use a password generator (you can find them online Google it)
6. Use software that remembers your passwords (i.e. something like Norton Identity Safe)
7. Change your passwords at least every 90 days, the more often the better
8. If you have been compromised change all of your passwords immediately.