Password protection; a seemingly double edge sword.
Passwords protect access to a myriad of personal accounts, banking information, files, credit cards, the ATM, your cell phone; yet the frustration of tracking separate passwords proves exhausting and time consuming. I freely admit my propensity towards defaulting to the same password for every account and access I need, and historically created something I knew well like the year of my birth and my initials, or, my grandfather’s name followed by the year I graduated from high school. If you find yourself defaulting to the same approach; please don’t.
Before you find yourself echoing the sentiments of many who learned “too little too late”, i.e. those victims of identity theft; review the following best practices for password protection and organization.
1. Create strong passwords. Experts recommend passwords should be at least twelve characters long and contain a mix of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers and symbols
Password’s should not contain real words or names.
2. Consider using a password manager. There are a wide variety of online password manager applications which allow you to view your passwords from anywhere you have access to the internet. Online password managers allow you to have a multitude of passwords, protected in an encrypted environment, accessible by a “master password.” Here are a few to applications to check out:
Use your search engine and query “password manager reviews” to explore other applications and find the best solution for you.
3. Investigate a flash drive solution. I.e., an encrypted application on a flash drive. Keep in mind, the flash drive must be carried with you :
https://www.ironkey.com/
RoboForm offers software to install on your flash drive
Look for additional information regarding password creation by searching “what makes a strong password” in your favorite search engine, or the following links may prove helpful as well:
http:/www.hackingpasswords.
http://www.identity-theft-
About the author: Tracy Parks is CEO of Simplicated, LLC, Productivity Consultant, trainer and speaker.
