How to Create Hack-Proof Passwords

For most of us, a password means something easily-remembered that doesn’t change too much- if at all- from site to site. Your dog’s name, maybe, or the street you grew up on. This is what hackers count on when they start trying to crack your password. In 2017 there was a breach of over 700 million emails and passwords, leading to an almost unprecedented security threat. If you don’t have proper cybersecurity habits, you could be next.

One of the best, most proactive steps you can take towards protecting your identity, your computer, and your financial, business, and personal data is having a strong password. This simple cybersecurity training tip is vital to keeping your online life safe. Here’s an easy-to-remember, simple, step-by-step process you can use to create passwords that it’ll take password-cracking software a millennium (no, really!) to guess. Watch this video, or read on below!

• Choose a lowercase word (or abbreviated phrase) that is at least 5-7 characters long- something personal to you is best!

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• Choose at least two numbers to add to the end of your word

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• Next, choose a special character to add to your word, after your numbers

images18!

• You've created your password base! Now break this base into two parts.

ima ges18!

• For every website you visit/new password you create, insert five letters to signify the website the password is for in uppercase into your split word

For this example we're using Amazon, so the letters we'll use are "AMAZA".

imaAMAZAges18!

If you have to change your password once per month or per quarter, you can replace the website abbreviation with the date of password creation. For example, "FEB18".

imaFEB18ges!

Using this formula, any password you create will be of a secure length, customizable, and easy-to-remember (yet different, which is key to strong cybersecurity), and difficult for a hacker to guess. The only caveat to this rule is for login information that relates to your finances- you can follow this process for your password for your bank login, for example, but you should not choose the same word as your other passwords for an added level of security.

Prevention is always a better idea than losing the online protection gambling game. With threats like ransomware and other dangerous malware only a click away, you can’t afford to not ensure your security. TechBldrs offers a number of personalized cybersecurity training programs so you, your employees, and your business can stay safe. We can also consult you on a full-scale backup, disaster recovery, and business resumption plan so that if anything goes wrong you can get back to work as soon as possible. Call TechBldrs at (610) 937-0900 or email us at info@kraigb12.sg-host.com so that we may begin assisting you.