Fraud Tip of the Day - October 2

Safe Password Practices

Creating and maintaining safe, strong passwords's is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself against cyber-security threats.

First, the easy stuff: keep your passwords in a secure, hidden location. Don't attach them to your monitor with sticky notes. Don't tell anyone what your password is. Don't post it on the internet, email it, or tell it to someone over the phone. Internet Service Providers and banks will never ask for your password. These safe passord practices protect you from physical threats but won't help you thwart hackers.

Make it hard for hackers

Hackers are people that try to gain access to your computer. They do this by figuring out your password. Creating strong passwords and changing them on a regular basis will make this a difficult task. Remember these general rule the next time you create or change your password.

• Passwords should have at least eight characters and include numerals and symbols and both capital and lower case letters.
  
  
• Don't use common words. Hacker tools include programs that try every word in the dictionary.
  
  
• Don't use birthdates, pet, children or spouse names, your login name, or adjacent keys on the keyboard as passwords.
  
  
• Change your password regularly
  
  
• Don't use the same password from all of your accounts.
  
  
• Don't login to accounts on public computers. This includes internet cafes, libraries and schools to name but a few.
  
  
• Sensitive information should be protected with very strong passwords. Banks and online trading accounts should be as difficult to crack as possible.

Following these safe password practices will make your passwords very hard to crack.