Due to the latest technology the internet is more accessible than ever before and cybercrime is at an all time high. In order prevent yourself from becoming a victim of cybercrime you can take some simple steps to enhance the security of your online accounts.
In order to access your online accounts you are required to enter a username and password, the strength of this password contributes to the security of your account.
Did you know that three of the most common passwords are ‘Password’, ‘Monkey’ and ‘123456’?
When deciding on a password you can apply the following steps to ensure your password is at maximum strength:
Choosing a password
- Make your passwords memorable, so that you can avoid writing them down where possible, if this is unavoidable then keep the recorded passwords somewhere secure.
- Use over eight characters or more.
- Try not to use personal information such as the name of your favourite football team, your birthday, your pet or child’s name.
- Use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and non-alphanumeric characters such as hyphens, although these aren’t always accepted.
- Try to use a sentence, removing the spaces, rather than a single word.
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts because if one account is breached they can all be breached.
- Try to avoid using words that have been spelt backwards or abbreviations.
Keeping your password safe
- Don’t tell anyone your password and if a company contacts you and asks for your password, even by phone, don’t give them any of your personal details. Remember, you don’t know who’s actually on the telephone.
- Aim to change your passwords every three months.
- If you receive an email confirmation that contains a new password, login again and change your password immediately.
- Keep your internet security software up to date.