Accounts for online banking, shopping, email...we all have so many
that it can be hard to keep track of them and more importantly, keep them
secure. Here are four tips from the experts on how to stop your account
information being found and traded or sold online. Treat your passwords like
your toothbrush – never let anyone else use it, and change it at least every
three months.
1. Avoid the obvious - Research suggests that 20 per cent of us
use the name of a pet as our password. Avoid using memorable words like these,
especially any that may already be visible on social networks or that you have
used before.
2. Find the right combination - Try to keep your passwords at
least eight characters in length - ten or more is best and use numbers, upper
case, lower case and symbols. The longer and more complex the password, the
harder it is to crack.
3. Find a system - Having a unique password for all your accounts
can be challenging but a useful approach can be to base passwords on lyrics of
your favourite songs or lines from films.
4. Keep an eye on your credit report - It's like your financial CV
and can highlight any irregularities such as people applying for loans or cards
in your name.
No comments:
Post a Comment