The best passwords keep unwanted people out while allowing you to log in to do your banking, shopping, and more with a few precise keyboard clicks. But how do you pick a strong password that is both hack proof while also possible to remember? Our partners at BALANCE have some solid tips that could help you avoid being among the 33% of Americas whose passwords are compromised every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diversify your online passwords<\/strong>: Repeatedly using the same password over again puts you at risk. Once you\u2019re hacked, cybercriminals can gain entry to every account with that password. Try to pick a different password for every account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be creative<\/strong>: It\u2019s more difficult for hackers to guess random combinations of letters and numbers. Sewing together nonsense strings of letters and digits is best. Avoid using common words, such as \u201cshopping\u201d or \u201cbeach.\u201d Instead, blend lowercase and capitalized letters, as well as symbols, to make it even more challenging. Haphazardly placed punctuation, including # and &, can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep passwords impersonal<\/strong>: In today\u2019s digital age, everyone makes so much private information public online. A quick social media search could reveal your birthday, hometown, age, as well as family and pet names. Hack-proof passwords should have no connection to your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bigger is better<\/strong>: Safeguard your online data with longer passwords. The recommended password length is 10-18 characters. Lengthy passwords make a thief\u2019s task harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Update your passwords often<\/strong>: Keeping the same password long-term isn\u2019t safe. Keep hackers from becoming digital squatters in your accounts by changing your passwords every three months like clockwork. If you receive a breach alert, pick a fresh password immediately. Also, ensure that old and new passwords are entirely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n