Tip of the Week: How to Create Better Passwords

February 23, 2024

Even though passwords are not the most reliable security measure out there these days, they are still important and the first line of defense against potential threats. Today, we want to discuss how you can make better passwords for all of your accounts.

Make Passwords Complex

The most secure passwords are complex, with over 12 characters, a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Additionally, these passwords will avoid using common words, like “password,” or other personally identifiable information. One trick you can use is to combine three words that have nothing to do with each other, then sub in numbers and symbols accordingly to make them more difficult to guess.

Don’t Replicate Passwords

People will often use the same passwords for multiple accounts, which really just defeats the purpose of using complex passwords. If you reuse passwords, then you’re basically saying, “If you can access one of my accounts, you can access the others, too.” You can use multiple complex passwords more easily if you use a password management tool to generate and store them. Reputable tools use encryption to protect your passwords, keeping them safe.

Frequently Update Passwords

Password security requires that you frequently update your passwords. The reason for this is simply that the longer you use the same old password, the more likely it is that someone will steal it. If you change it up occasionally, you are limiting the window for how usable a password is for a hacker. Of course, if you suspect that your password has been stolen somehow, you will want to change it immediately anyway.

Implement Multi-factor Authentication

You should not be relying exclusively on passwords to protect your accounts. You should also implement multiple other authentication factors, like biometrics, secondary passcodes sent to smartphones or email inboxes, and so on. This extra layer of security is crucial to keeping your accounts secure on the off-chance that your password has been compromised.

First Column IT can help your business implement password management solutions to keep your company safe. To learn more, call us today at (571) 470-5594.

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Tip of the Week: How to Boot Your PC In Safe Mode

Diagnosing issues with your PC can be challenging, and that’s because an operating system is inherently a complicated piece of technology. If you’re looking for a way to isolate the problem and diagnose it, we typically recommend you work with a managed service provider (like us) to make it happen. If you’d like to try things out for yourself, however, you can use Safe Mode to examine your PC in its base form to see if you can find the root cause of the issue.

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Be Prepared for When Ransomware Strikes

There is a seemingly infinite number of cybersecurity threats out there, but there are few threats more dangerous than ransomware. If a business hasn’t taken precautions against it, ransomware can (and will) find ways to extort money, hold data hostage, and threaten that organization’s continuity. Today, we want to cover what ransomware does, what you need to do to prevent it, and what to do if you’re attacked.

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