Password Protection

July 27, 2016

One of the first lines of defense in protecting your personal information is creating a strong password.  Read more to learn three simple tips regarding passwords.

Today, passwords are needed for everything from email to bank accounts. Strong passwords are essential to protecting your information and your money. On the other hand, weak passwords can unlock a treasure trove of both personal and financial information about you for anyone to see. Although passwords like "Password1234" may be easy to remember, they don't provide adequate protection.  Here are three simple tips when it comes to passwords:

1. Create a password that is at least eight characters and a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
2. An easy way to create a complex password is to use the first letter of each word in a familiar phrase, and add a number and symbol at the end.  For example, you might use the phrase "My dog's name is Brutus!" and the random number "317" to come up with a password of "MdniB317!."
3. Update your passwords regularly. This could be as simple as changing the numbers at the end of the password, but keep in mind that passwords shouldn’t remain the same forever.

Bonus Tip: Remember to set passcodes on your mobile devices so that others cannot access that information.