Passwords are your first line of defense to safeguarding your digital life. Creating and appropriately storing strong passwords is one of the most critical aspects of everyday cybersecurity.
In honor of World Password Day, Information Technology Services reminds you of the following best practices to stay safe online:
Long, unique and complex. Passwords should be at least 16 characters long. The longer your password, the longer it takes for hackers to crack it using brute force techniques. Each account should have a unique password so that if one account is compromised, your other accounts remain secure. Passwords should be complex and include a random mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters like @, ! or $.
Use a password manager. The average person manages 160+ accounts. With a password manager, you only need to remember one master password to unlock your secure vault of stored passwords. A good password manager has features to help you achieve long, unique and complex passwords. Some examples include Keeper, Bitwarden and 1Password.
Turn on multi-factor authentication. MFA takes your security beyond the password by adding a new layer of security to each of your accounts. When you turn on MFA, you use more than a password to log in, such as a facial scan, a text message or a special app.
Explore passkeys. Passkeys are an emerging technology that eliminates the need for passwords. In a sense, they function as a form of MFA, but neither factor involves a password. This approach paves the way toward a passwordless future. Instead of a password, users typically use a combination of device possession and biometrics, like a facial scan. If you’re prompted to set up a passkey, consider trying it out. Popular sites that currently support passkeys include Apple, Google, Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon, eBay, GitHub, Target, PayPal, Walmart and others.