By Rob Gabriele
More Americans than ever are working remotely and seeking out entertainment online, and this increase of internet activity has fueled a dramatic spike in cybercrime. With so much critical data now stored in the cloud, how can people protect their accounts?
Related: Training human sensors
Until biometrics or a quantum solution change our everyday approach to encryption, passwords remain our first line of defense against data breaches, hackers, and thieves.
Guarding our digital lives (and real-world identities) with just a few keystrokes seems a tactic too simple to ignore, and if users are careful and stick with best practices, these simple measures can be remarkably effective.
Proper password hygiene doesn’t require a degree in rocket science. Follow these four easy tips, and you’ll sleep better and safer at night.
1) Create sufficiently-complex passwords. This may seem obvious, but most users have poor password habits because it’s far simpler to remember your pet’s name and birthday than a combination of random numbers and letters. But simpler passwords are much easier to hack. Anything quickly conceived can be deciphered with the same speed, so forget your old tricks and stick to these ground rules instead:
•Longer is better. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) latest guidelines stress that a password’s length is its most critical component. Make sure your code has at least eight characters, but it’s best to pick a dozen or more.
•Don’t use words or names. Words and phrases are easier to remember but highly susceptible to cracking. Hackers can run through entire dictionaries in seconds, making this approach similar to hiding a key under the doormat.
