Passwords are meant to be secret keys to our personal information, but creating strong passwords doesn’t have to be a mystery. In fact, it’s a lot simpler than you might think, and a few simple tweaks can make even the weakest password a stalwart barrier of protection for everything you hold dear.
Not enough people take their passwords seriously, and that’s something we’re aiming to change. In this guide, we’ll cover the surprising secret(s) to creating sustainable password security so you can get back on track with protecting your private information. Interested? Let’s take a closer look at the process.
The Facts
The facts are in, and they’re not good. Depending on the poll you’re reading, anywhere from about 50-80% of people use only 1-2 passwords for everything. That’s right; the same password that accesses their Amazon account also accesses their bank, credit card, social media, private website, and cloud storage accounts. Not to mention, people share up to six personal passwords with family, friends, and co-workers.
Let’s say you’ve shared just one password with a friend…your Hulu account, for example. Now, that friend has another friend that really wants Hulu but doesn’t want to pay for it. Your friend visits them, logs in with your credentials, and forgets to log out. Now, you have two people, one you don’t know, that have access to your account. Your credit or debit card/bank account is linked to Hulu to pay for your subscription…yikes!
Most humans follow familiar patterns when creating passwords. This is to help us remember them because after all, we have so many online accounts these days. No one could possibly remember a complex password for every account.
There’s at least a 50% chance that a password will contain a vowel, and a lot of people put either a 1, 2, or 0 at the end of a password to make it more “secure”. Are you noticing a theme here? The bottom line is that a disturbing number of people either don’t take their passwords seriously or simply don’t know how to do better.
While we can’t fix the former, the latter is something we can address by spreading awareness and providing resources and tools for better password generation, storage, and security.
Password Keepers
What is a password keeper app, anyway? You’ve probably heard of these tools at some point. In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in the number of people using them to protect and manage all of their online passwords.
Password keeper apps are easy to use and may be the little-known secret to protecting your passwords. Password security means nothing if your passwords aren’t stored properly! With end-to-end encryption and two-step verification processes, password keepers make for more secure keepers than a Word or Google document.
Most password keeper apps work across multiple platforms and are free to use. This eliminates the need to spend a small fortune on your protection, although spending money on protecting your personal information shouldn’t be an issue.
Password keepers can also help you generate much more secure passwords. If you’re not great at this password thing, utilize this feature to get away from the confines of your typical password habits. Yes, this means creating passwords you probably won’t be able to memorize, but that’s why you’re using the app; to store, secure, and manage your complex and very secure passwords.
Why Security Matters So Much
It would seem that the security of personal information isn’t much of a priority in our 21st-century lifestyle. After all, we freely give all of our information to sites like Facebook and seem surprised when these organizations are caught selling or misusing that information. In a world where everything about our lives is public, some things need to remain private.
Each of us has an obligation to protect our own data, even when certain companies would demand we hand it over to use their services. It’s time we also begin to question the practices of such organizations and stand against them. Do you truly want your data bought, sold, and given out freely to whomever Facebook, Instagram, or whichever site you use chooses?
Alright, so you can’t exactly stop social media from selling your personal data (aside from deleting your account forever), but you can protect your information better by taking responsibility for your own passwords. Use a password keeper, replace old passwords, and do not use duplicates for any of your accounts!
The Bottom Line
What’s the secret to better password security? You. You’re responsible for taking control of your passwords, your data, and your internet practices and creating better security for your personal information. Don’t take passwords and login credentials for granted. Hackers look for easy passwords and people who neglect their personal security!
