How to Create a Secure Password

News about online hacks are not very new to us. Every year the criminals make off with millions of passwords. Even the major websites that are known to have high security measures such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google are not spared from these online attacks.

Here are some tips on how to secure and create a unique password:

Do not share your passwords with others, for a very obvious reason – the more people know your password, the more vulnerable your accounts are to unauthorized logins. Don’t ever write your passwords down and never give them out to anyone nor post it on your computer screen or desk.

Make a password that is unique to you and not something that is easily guessed, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers. Avoid using the common passwords such as ‘123456’, ‘111111 ‘qwerty’, and the most common ‘password’. (“Password”? Really?) Choose a phrase that is unique to you and you can customize for each website you use. For example, one possible phrase is “I like sandwiches” then use numbers and letters to recreate it and add an exclamation point at the end. So “I like sandwiches” becomes “1l1k3s4ndw1ch3s!”. You can put the first letter of the website you are using on your new password phrase. For example, for your Facebook password you can use F1l1k3s4ndw1ch3s! and T1l1k3s4ndw1ch3s! for your Twitter account.

Have a different password for each online account, this reduces the risk of having your other accounts compromised. Using one password for all or most of your accounts is never a good idea – if a criminal gains access to one, all of them are compromised.

Change your password several times a year, if the site you’re using has a history of being hacked, the software used in hacking major websites often makes it possible for hackers to continue to view your information until you change your password. Set up your password recovery options and keep them up-to-date so you will have a way to get back into your account if you forget your password.

Other ways to secure an account is by using two-factor and multi-factor authentication:

Two-factor authentication uses a username and password and another form of authentication, often times a security code.

Multi-factor authentication uses the three factors of authentication to verify an identity such as a username and password, a security code, and a biometric like voice ID, fingerprint, facial recognition, or iris recognition.

The problem with two-factor authentication is there is always the fear of your device getting lost or stolen which makes it impossible for the user to get the codes being sent to the device. Authicon offers a layer of protection without having to use a device to authenticate. You will never have to worry about not signing in to your account if you lose your device. Authicon layer of protection stays on the website so there is no fear of the code getting lost or stolen. Only you know the icons to input when prompted. This is the main advantage of using Authicon protection.

It is important to choose a strong password to secure your important accounts. It is always a good practice to update your passwords regularly and to remember it. Further secure your accounts by using additional authentication methods. Source: http://blog.authicon.com/how-to-create-a-secure-password/!