PASSWORD SECURITY

''I always use the same password for all my accounts and applications. I do not like to use complicated passwords because it is difficult to remember and too long. What do you think?....''

Bceuase of this, let's say, for example, you're in your home using your computer and all of a sudden a hacker gets a hold of your password for a certain website. Since it is only one website it should be okay right? WRONG.

Most people use the same password for a wide number of websites. Therefore, in this post, I will be giving some tips in order to avoid this for those who don't like complicating your passwords. Or, for those who didn't know they were doing it and want to start preventing a future attack.

1-So, the first step to make our password more secure is, of course, to check the number of characters it has. For example, if we have a 6 letter password like ''Tomato'' then it would be advised to get a longer password of at least 8 characters or more. The longer the password, the less likely you are to suffer from a brute force attack. 

2-Now, we have a long password like ''cucumber''. It isn't bad, but it is very easy to crack a password that uses simple words without numbers or symbols. So, to make it safer, we are going to add some numbers to it, and, if the website allows it, we will also be adding some symbols too. Don't forget to add them in between letters as well, like ''cuc-cumb3r1''.

3- This tip, and I cannot stress this enough, is one, if not the most important. Write your passwords down. Don't do it on your phone or PC/laptop, use a tiny notebook or a notebook in general. Keep the notebook in a safe space and don't forget it anywhere. In your phone or laptop you're more likely to loose your passwords due to a hack attack, your device breaking, or a simple accident. A notebook is more reliable. Hackers cannot access it, most people won't be able to see it, and it is easier for you to access than your phone or laptop.

4-Now, if you are one of those people who uses a PC or laptop in a working environment. Do not tell your coworkers your password. You may think it would be okay because there would be no reason for them to use your account or laptop. But work is unpredictable, unless you're extremely close to that person (even then, I wouldn't recommend telling them your password). People change, and work too. Even if you see someone at work who looks trustworthy, don't risk your security and job over a simple act of trust.

5. Last but not least, let's say you have the safest most secure password you can think of. If you want one additional step of security, use a multi-factor authentification (MFA). Even passwords have their limits, and just because your password is extremely secure, it doesn't mean it is unbreachable. So, if the website or app allows it, please try and use a MFA. That way, you'll instantly know if someone is trying to crack your password, and to take action.

If you want some more tips about making your password more secure, GCFGlobal has a very good article where they go in great detail about this tips. So, if you want, don't be afraid to check it out!

Also, if you want to put your new password to the test, you can always check it using a password strength checker like this one. It will tell you tips to make it more secure (if it isn't) and will tell you if it is a very used password. If you see a green tick on the screen, it means your password is good to go!