Click on the squares

I’ll admit this topic gives me heartburn. For us digital immigrants, we probably went through a big chunk of our life not worrying about creating a password. The combination for our locker at school was about as bad as it got. When we opened our own bank account, we would set a PIN (personal identification number) for use with our ATM card - just four numbers. 

You don’t need to be told that things have gotten more complicated. In order to write this blog, first I have to login to my computer or enter my PIN on my iPad (okay, I touch the home button or it recognizes my face). Then I login to my blogging application. To share on social media, I login again. Then there’s two-factor authentication and the list goes on. 

I figure I have a few hundred passwords, usernames, pins, etc. To make matters worse, for some things like email I am supposed to periodically change my login credentials or risk being locked out of my account. And as we age, it’s harder to remember this information. 

Studies show that the most popular passwords for logging in somewhere online are:

• password

• 1234567890

• abcdefg

• qwerty

Now that I’ve disclosed those, before you go scrambling to change your passwords, read on.

 

Things to do when creating passwords 

• Think of an obscure phrase or maybe a Bible verse, solvable to you with a clue. 

• Use upper and lowercase letters combined with numbers and special characters. 

• Substitute characters for letters, but don’t make it too obvious 

• Make them long — the longer the better

Protecting passwords 

Like house keys left under rocks, the bad guys usually know where to look. Slips of paper hidden can be found. Office computers turned on and left unattended. These are easy targets. It might be a hassle, but logout of your computer at work or home (especially when visitors, repair people, etc. are present). If you have a list on paper, is it locked away in a safe or written in a cryptic way you understand?

If you ask your device to remember your passwords, that convenience comes at a cost. You should still manually login periodically. If your device breaks and you get a new one, or you replace an old one, chances are you’ll need them to set up your apps. 

Avoid logging in if you’re on public WiFi, especially don’t do online banking there. Never click a link in an email or text that appears to be from a site you use, no matter how legit it looks and no matter how urgent the message. When on a secured Internet connection, login to your account as you normally would and check that you’re okay. 

Password management software

An IT guy I know recommends LastPass. It’s among a list PCMag compiled. These applications act as a virtual safe for your passwords, PIN’s, etc. and a single login gets you in. (And nobody paid me to plug their products, by the way)

This topic is pretty exhaustive and I’ve only scratched the surface, but it’s worth your time and peace of mind to consider how you secure such sensitive information.  

As you research safe solutions, I found a good article on the subject from the security company Avast: https://blog.avast.com/strong-password-ideas

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