You should change your passwords every three months and choose a new password that is difficult to crack.
When should you change your password?
1. A data breach exposed your private information.
Cybercriminals attack companies, institutions, and even hospitals daily. There is no place they don’t go.
Malicious data leaks are relentless. It would help if you did not underestimate them. Stay tuned for tech news and take cybersecurity threats seriously.
Act quickly if you hear that a page or service you use has suffered a security breach. Hackers may have already published your password on the Dark Web. Change your passwords, even if you use different passwords for different sites.
2. Random login texts are signs that you should change your passwords
We rely on verification codes to protect our identities. Using two-factor authentication (2FA), you expect these codes when signing in to a page or service. This is where things get tricky. Scammers want to trick you with fake 2FA codes. So if you get a verification code you didn’t ask for, you could be in danger.
3. You fell for a scam or phishing email.
We all get phishing emails. They pose as trusted brands and services. It’s easy to fall for them if you need to learn how they work.
Let’s say you receive an email telling you to update your password. Please verify the email address to make sure it is authentic. Then open a new window and go to the official website to see if you need to update your credentials.
The extra step might seem like a hassle, but it’s worth it. If you click on a link in a phishing email, your cyber security is at risk. Change your password as soon as possible. Otherwise, hackers could take over your digital life.
4. Did you share your credentials?
If you’re using a password manager, the passcode should always remain a mystery to the rest of the world. Never share it with anyone. So if you ever gave the code to someone else, we have bad news.
You must update each password within the administrator. Otherwise, the bad guys could compromise all your accounts.
We all need to create strong, unique, and hard-to-crack passwords. The problem is that they need help remembering. That’s why using a password manager is a good idea, as long as you don’t make the mistake of sharing your code.
Here are some general rules when creating passwords :
Use all kinds of characters: Letters with alternate capitalization, numbers, and symbols like exclamation points or asterisks.
Think in Phrases: Think of a single phrase, such as a line from a song. Replace the letters with numbers and symbols. In this way, you can remember the password.
Use different passwords for each account – It’s tempting to reuse passwords. But that puts your important accounts at risk. If a hacker cracks your password on one account, he has access to all your accounts that share the compromised password.Lie: Do not answer the security questions truthfully. If a page asks you to enter your first pet’s name to prove your identity at login, choose something bogus. Otherwise, social engineering schemes could help scammers break into your account. Just make sure you remember your fake answers!
