Debunking the Most Common Password Myths That Exist Today
According to the Department of Homeland Security, only 12% of Americans use the proper password management. That is dangerous because cybercriminals have an uncanny way of hacking into your system and guessing your passwords with ease.
Once that happens, those criminals can receive confidential information like your credit card number or home address. Possibly one of the main reasons why people have low security is due to common password myths.
There are several things people do and assume they have a secure password. Do you want to avoid some of the most common password mistakes that internet users make today? Let’s debunk the most common password myths that exist today.
You Can Use the Same Password Twice or More
Many people assume that it is okay to use the same password across multiple platforms. After all, that makes it easy to log in every time.
By doing this, you aren’t likely to forge and have to hit the Reset Password button. You are also more likely to become a part of the 41% of U.S. citizens who experience fraudulent charges.
Once a hacker learns your favorite passwords or series of words, they will attempt to use it on other sites. Once they see that password key opening up website after website, you will see a password breach notification from every site you use.
You Don’t Always Need a Password
Yes, you do. No matter what website it is, be sure to set a strong password. That is true even if the website is for social media or a clothing store.
No matter how minuscule you determine the site to be, set a password. You never know what information a criminal could pull.
You Don’t Always Need a Long Password
Long passwords take time to formulate and remember. We all know the struggles of having to use a password manager and hit the reset button.
But, the best password is always long, contains special characters and numbers. If you want to set a smart password, you will never use information containing:
- Home address
- Date of birth
- Animals
- Family member birthdays
- Family and friend names
- Favorite sports team
- Favorite food
Don’t use anything that a hacker can look up and guess as a password. Personal information is too easy for them. Instead, try using a series of randomly generated numbers and characters.
Never Write Down Your Password
People think that writing down passwords is dangerous. But you can do so with minimal threat. Many people have a notepad with all of their log-in information written down.
If you do this, be sure to hide it from everyone else. That will ensure you don’t forget those extra-long passwords.
If you need, you can always hire service for encrypted password storage. That means that the code and language for your password is encrypted to a point where even if a hacker finds it they won’t know what it says.
For More Common Password and Security Tips
As you can tell, several common password myths need debunking to help you stay safe. Were you surprised to find out a few of these? We hope this aids you in creating stronger passwords.
Remember, you always need a password no matter what website you use. Also, take care to use different passwords for each account you create across the web. If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more about common passwords and security tips, we invite you to check out our blog today!
