Passwords today are a real threat to security. Most hacking-related breaches are due to weak or stolen passwords, a recent report shows over 80%. If you want to safeguard your personal info and assets, creating secure passwords is a big first step. Impossible-to-crack passwords are complex with multiple types of characters (numbers, letters, and symbols). Making your passwords different for each website or application also helps defend against hacking.
That’s why we recommend LastPass Password Generator. LastPass runs locally on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer, as well as your iOS or Android device. The passwords you generate are never sent across the web.
Here are some common sense Password Tips
- Always use a unique password for each account you create. The danger with reusing passwords is that as soon as one site has a security issue, it‘s very easy for hackers to try the same username and password combination on other websites.
- Don’t use personally identifiable information in your passwords. Names, birthdays, and street addresses may be easy to remember but they’re also easily found online and should always be avoided when creating new passwords to ensure the greatest strength.
- Create passwords with at minimum of 12 characters and containing letters, numbers, and special characters. Some humans prefer passwords which are 14 or more characters in length.
- If you’re creating a master password that you’ll need to remember, try using phrases or lyrics from your favorite movie or song. Just add random characters, but don't replace them in easy to guess patterns.
- Use a password manager like LastPass to create and manage your passwords. It'll keep your information protected from attacks or snooping.
- Avoid weak, commonly used passwords like asd123, password1, or Temp!. Some examples of a strong password include: G&294E3w(LN1*, KIYs^r@az)97$x, 9iw%v33gTwo)9k*g.
- Avoid using personal information for your security questions. Use LastPass to generate another password and store it as the answer to these questions. The reason? Some information, like the name of the street you grew up on or your mother’s maiden name, is easily found by hackers and can be used in a brute-force attack to gain access to your accounts.
- Avoid using similar passwords that change only a single word or character. This practice weakens your account security across multiple sites.
- Change your passwords when you have reason to, after you've shared them with someone, after a website has had a breach, or when it's been over a year since you last rotated it.
- Never share your passwords via email or text message. The secure way to share is with a tool like LastPass that gives you the ability to share a hidden password and even revoke access when necessary.
