In light of Mat Honan’s recent hacking nightmare, it has become apparent that we all need to be more proactive about our personal account security.
Here are 5 Password Best Practices:
1. Use strong passwords – the more complex your password is, the harder it is for fraudsters to guess it or hack it.
2. Use different passwords for each account – if hackers have access to your password they will likely try it on multiple sites. Using various passwords prevents them from having access to all of your accounts.
3. Don’t put answers to password reset questions on your social media profiles – your mom’s maiden name, your favorite pet, and the name of your high school are all common password reset questions that a lot of us have the answers to on our social profiles.
4. Turn on two-factor authentication or demand it – if your online service providers offer two-factor authentication, turn it on. This extra layer of security can be the difference between being hacked and exploited or staying secure. If they don’t provide two-factor authentication, demand the service.
5. Respond quickly – if you think your account has been compromised, report it immediately. Chances are you probably aren’t alone and your account provider should know about the breach as soon as possible. And change your password right way if you think you’ve been hacked!
