Password Management Tips

Many people I know use the same simple password across multiple sites. All it takes is one of the sites to be hacked and all their accounts are now compromised. I recommend going to Have I Been Pwned to check and see if your email has been compromised. Most likely you will be surprised at how many sites have been hacked that you have an account for. Below are some common tips for managing your passwords.

Unique Passwords for All Sites

All your passwords should be unique, random, and complex. This means uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters at least 8 characters long. If you do not want to use a password manager coming up with a pattern for your passwords is a good idea. (Additional Info)

Use a Password Manager

Now that all your passwords are unique, random, and complex, you need a password manager to remember them. They are great for not only securing passwords but storing private notes and other personal information. Here are several good options for password managers. Many password managers allow you to export your passwords from other applications. Here is a great article from 1Password on moving your password.

Turn on 2FA

2-Factor Authentication is an extra layer of security used to make sure that people trying to gain access to an online account are who they say they are. First, a user will enter their username and a password. Then, instead of immediately gaining access, they will be required to provide another piece of information. (More Info). I recommend enabling 2FA on all sites/apps that support it. If you are using 1Password, you can also use it to automatically copy the 2FA code to your clipboard making it simple to use. Other sites allow you to use your phone number to receive the 2FA code. This is better than nothing but be aware hackers have been able to breach accounts by stealing phone numbers (SIM swap) from the individual.  Make sure your print the back up codes when enabling 2FA.

Turn Off Browser Password Manager

Browser password managers just get in the way and cause confusion when using a password manager. I recommend disabling them. 1Password has a great article covering how-to for all common browsers.

Please share this article with your friends and family and encourage them to secure their accounts by using a password manager. Leave a comment below of what password manager your use and any tips you may have.


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