P@55w0rds – H0w_s3cur3_!s_y[]urs123?

Many of us are reluctant to change our passwords. But if you are clinging hold of yours, or making only subtle changes, your data and vital information could be compromised. But what can we do to stop this, and how secure are our passwords?

We all know how it goes, many of us have kept the same password for a long time- and I mean long. Whether it’s the name of your uncle’s old cat, your favourite movie and the year you were born, or just something completely random, it can be difficult to sever the attachment we have to our long-used passwords, even if it isn’t secure. This is because long-used passwords are easy to remember, we can enter them without even thinking, and we are less likely to forget them and get locked out of an account. However, long-used passwords may make your accounts easier to access, meaning that your date could be compromised.

Data breaches and identity theft are on the rise and often compromised passwords are the cause. Cybercriminals can use passwords to gain further can further access, to financial information, or even hack into webcams or WiFi-connected security cameras. These crimes can quickly snowball out of control, becoming increasingly destructive to those that have had their data compromised. But how can you prevent this?

Creating secure passwords means waving goodbye to your old ones. To protects your information, consider the following:

• Long passwords are more difficult to crack – experts advise using 16 figures where possible to decrease your likelihood of getting hacked.
• Don’t just use letters – a combination of letters, numbers and characters will make your password more secure.
• Do not use personal information in your passwords, such as kids’ names, significant years, or even pets’ names.
• Do not use the same password across multiple accounts – if one gets compromised, they could all be at risk.
• Never use the word “password”!
• Don’t use consecutive letters and numbers, such as “abcdefg” or “1234567”, these can be easily compromised.

With a good password, you can help to avoid the following:

• General lack of privacy – privacy is essential for businesses for personal accounts.
• For businesses, hackers can start “disinformation campaigns”, which often consist of data sharing with competitors.
• Identity theft – as we live in an increasingly online world, our online fingerprints are integral to our communications online. If a password is compromised, it can make it easier for a hacker to gain access to information such as names, addresses, and bank account information. Identity theft can have a devastating effect, causing financial losses, or difficulty getting loans or employment.

Up to 80% of passwords have been compromised. Changing yours today could help you to avoid breaches of your data, whether you have a business or personal account.