It doesn’t matter if you didn’t know there’s a World Password Day, which takes place on the first Thursday of every May, but you want to know how to manage your passwords.
At the risk of sounding like a lecturer, if you don’t use strong passwords or the same for all your online activities, you will compromise your knowledge and your devices.
The good news is that you don’t want a computer science degree to work, play, bank, and shop online safely.
“People perceive that they want to be safe and that popularity is a vital first step,” says Michael Crandell, CEO of Bitwarden, a leading open source password manager (rated A through US News).
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In its annual password control survey, Bitwarden found that more than 8 in 10 Americans (85 percent) reuse passwords across multiple sites, and more than a portion of respondents rely on memory to manage passwords. In addition, about 60% of Americans have an average password duration of nine to 15 characters (Bitwarden suggests that 14 is considered a starting point).
In addition, only about one-third (31 percent) of U. S. respondents. U. S. consumers have experienced a knowledge gap in the past 18 months, at about 1 in four (23 percent) worldwide.
Some undeniable precautions can go a long way and what better time than World Password Day on Thursday to review them.
Cyber criminals can crack easy passwords. Resist using the names, birthdays, or birthdays of your children or pets.
Sound familiar? Microsoft claims that 15% of other people say they use puppy names to cheer themselves up through the password.
Reduce the threat by changing your password from time to time (perhaps every 60 days or so) to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
I once heard a funny, but clever, way of thinking about passwords: “Passwords are like underwear: replace them often, don’t percentage them, and don’t leave them hanging. “
Also, never use the same password for all your online activities, because if a service is hacked and your password is exposed, cybercriminals can verify it on the account.
A wise solution for this is a reliable password control app that is a wise solution for using strong passwords and others for buying grocery sites and other online activities.
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Alternatively, some cybersecurity experts say that a “password” is even better than a password (and less difficult to remember). A password is a string of words, which can also come with numbers and symbols, such as taking a word like “Barking on the tree,” which then becomes “Barking from the tree!”
In honor of “World Password Day,” Microsoft suggests that the maximum strong password is not a password at all.
Microsoft provides password-free sign-in, allowing users to remove passwords from their Microsoft account to access things like Outlook and OneDrive using the Microsoft Authenticator app, Windows Hello, a security key, or a verification code for a secure and convenient sign-in. The video explains in more detail the “no password” approach.
The company also shared a fun “bingo card” of common mistakes related to the passwords we make (see photo).
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Speaking of passwords, you can do a lot for cybercriminals by adding a layer of momentary defense to your online accounts, such as shopping, banking, and cloud garage accounts.
“Multi-factor authentication” means you’ll have to enter not only a password (or use a “biometric” solution, such as a fingerprint or face scan) to make sure only you can access your accounts, but also one-timecode that is sent to your cell phone.
In other words, combine what you know (password) with what you have (smartphone).
According to Bitwarden, multi-factor authentication has made its way: 79% of U. S. respondents have made its way. UU. la used for business accounts and 77% use it for non-public accounts. the maximum or all of your online activity.
“While there is no liability protection, so cardholders are to blame for the transactions they have made, you can take a more proactive role in reducing the threat when shopping for groceries online,” said Michael Jabbara, vice president and director of Global Anti-Fraud Services at Visa. .
“For example, signaling for multi-factor authentication, so that when they pay to log in to a merchant’s site, they’ll get a text to validate themselves, as well as to signal themselves to receive alerts, so that if someone tries to make a transaction on their card and they’re not the ones they’re going to get and they’re going to be able to touch a bank,” Adds Jabbara, in a telephone interview with USA TODAY.
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“And before you type in your card number, look for the ‘https’ in an internet browser, to make sure it’s a secure connection. “
Jabbara says there are a few other small things to “practice smart general cybersecurity hygiene,” which includes the exercise of “common sense,” such as not clicking on suspicious links or attachments or classified ads that seem too smart to be true and, of course, not giving out your password or PIN — all of this helps your first line of defense.
Do not install reputable anti-malware software (short for “malware”), as you need to worry not only about viruses, but also spyware, ransomware, worms, rootkits, and Trojans.
Good cybersecurity software will automatically update with coverage opposite to the latest threats, but don’t renew it when the time comes, so you’re protected against the latest threats. a clever concept to use when you’re online, as it hides your online whereabouts from those who benefit from tracking your activity.
Similarly, configure your software (including operating systems) to update automatically, if possible, so you don’t have to.
Also update the “firmware” of your hardware, such as a router and printer.
Follow Marc on Twitter @marc_saltzman for his “Technical Tip of the Day” posts. Email them or subscribe to their Tech It Out podcast. The outlook and reviews expressed in this column are those of and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States. TODAY.