Cybersecurity threats are real. Every time we go online, we risk having our connection intercepted or someone capturing our credentials. Of course, you might browse for years without encountering such trouble. However, once you do, the aftermath might be anything but pleasant.
In 2020, there were 4.8 million identity theft and fraud reports received by the FTC. That’s a 30% increase from 2019. Keeping your online assets secure is paramount for your safety. In the best-case scenario, you are looking at minor fraudulent charges. In the worst-case scenario, you can be a victim of identity theft.
What should you do? You should make sure that your accounts are well-protected. There are several strategies to do it. We present to you five rules to follow for strong account protection.
5 Rules to Follow for Strong Account Protection
Rule 1: Start with a long password
Have you ever heard the expression “you must use a strong password”? The “strong” here implies that it must have more than eight characters. Of course, the longer it is, the better. Some experts advise people to use at least 12-character long passwords.
Your password should have lower- and upper-case characters, special characters, and numbers. Have a bit of fun. Just make sure not to use common words and character combinations. Hackers know all about “super-clever” passwords such as “mypassword,” “You’llneverguess,” “easyone,” and so on.
Rule 2: Forget about reusing old passwords
You might find the following too much to keep up with – all your accounts must have unique passwords. Yeah, it does sound like a lot of work. You need to have unique passwords for each account you have.
If you reuse old passwords that you know by heart or use the same password across multiple accounts, all it takes is for a hacker to crack only one password. That one password will give them access to all your accounts, which can have devastating consequences.
Rule 3: Enable 2FA on all accounts
2FA is great if the previous rule was overwhelming for you. It stands for two-factor authentication, and it’s designed to keep those hackers out of your private stuff. It’s like having two passwords for one account; only the second password is random, generated after entering the correct account password, and sent to you via email, SMS, or phone app.
It means that even if a hacker has your password, they won’t be able to log into your account unless they have the 2FA code. The best, most secure, and convenient way to use 2FA is through an authentication app. There are many authenticator apps, and we’ll let you choose the one you find most promising.
Rule 4: Track your passwords with a password manager
We have a solution for all of you who don’t want to keep track of your long and strong passwords but still want to improve the security of your accounts. The solution is called a password manager. It is software developed to encrypt and store your login credentials. The best thing about it is that password managers work automatically.
Whether you create an account or log in to an existing one, your password manager will ask you to store the login credentials. All you need to do is remember the master password for your manager. If you decide to use one, we suggest you make a master password very strong, which translates into 12 characters, special characters, numbers, and all that jazz.
Rule 5: Avoid logging in on public networks
Even if you do your best to protect them, your accounts will be exposed to certain cybersecurity risks. While there are various scenarios when it might happen, the most common one is when using public networks. The problem is that public networks are often unprotected. What does it mean?
It means that hackers can hack into your connection and steal your sensitive data, including login credentials. Luckily, you can easily evade this danger. Just stop using public networks. If you have no options and you must use public networks, get a free VPN app. This application will encrypt your traffic and prevent anyone from intercepting or monitoring your connection.
Bonus rule: Check Google monitors
Finally, there is a way to ensure that your accounts are not compromised. See, there is no 100% guarantee against cyber-attacks. Not even the biggest names in the world are immune to them. The chances that your sensitive data will leak are high, but there is a way to discover it in time and do some damage control.
Hit Google’s Password Checkup to see whether your accounts have been compromised and immediately change the password if they show up on reports.
Your accounts may not be under immediate threat of cyber-attacks so Strong Account Protection is very necessary. But sooner or later, they will be. It’s better to have them well-protected. You will keep your accounts behind an impenetrable wall, safe from attacks, but only if you follow these rules.
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