How Secure Is My Password?

Identity theft and data breaches are on the rise, and frequently, weak passwords are to blame. Cybercriminals who have obtained credentials can then use passwords to launch defamation campaigns against businesses, purchase goods using people’s credit information, and eavesdrop on customers using Wi-Fi-connected security cameras. To assist you in understanding password security, we created this tool.

How To Create Secure Password

The following are the best methods for making secure passwords:

  • Our password-related study has indicated that 45% of Americans use passwords of eight characters or less, which are less secure than longer passwords. Passwords should be at least 16 characters long.
  • A password should be made up of a mixture of characters, numbers, and letters.
  • You shouldn’t use the same password for several accounts.
  • Any personal information about the user, such as their address or phone number, shouldn’t be included in their password. It’s also preferable to avoid including any information that can be found on social media, such as the names of children or pets.
  • There shouldn’t be any consecutive letters or numbers in a password.
  • The word “password” or repeated letters or numbers shouldn’t be used as a password.

Why Is Password Security Important?

Consequences of using insecure passwords include, but are not limited to:

  • Many hackers will log into a user’s account once they have their credentials to obtain more personally identifiable information (PII), such as the user’s name, address, and bank account information. They will utilize this information to either take the user’s identity or their money directly. Identity theft can lead to additional financial losses or make it harder to secure a job or a loan.
  • Inadequate privacy
  • Hackers can launch defamation campaigns against firms, revealing their data to rivals and holding it for ransom.

The Consequences of Stolen Password

80 percent of data breaches in 2019 were due to compromised passwords, costing both consumers and organizations money.

Influence on Consumers

According to IBM’s 2020 Cost of Data Breach Report, customer PII-related data is the most valuable data type that hackers can get via security breaches, costing $150 per record.

According to the FTC, identity theft losses, which can result from password theft, cost businesses $92 million in total in 2019. The average consumer loss due to identity theft was $8946.

Other Online Self-Protection Techniques

Use a VPN

Although passwords keep unauthorized users out of accounts, ISPs can still monitor a user’s internet behavior and the private IP addresses of their devices. The only option to conceal web activity and IP addresses are to connect to a VPN, or virtual private network, rather than straight to a public Wi-Fi network. Learn more about selecting the finest VPN, which has been put to the test by our specialists in online safety.

Get identity theft protection

While a strong password can help keep online accounts safe, there is no one thing that users can do to secure their personally identifiable information. Instead, the best identity theft security software keeps an eye out for users’ personal information in major financial and criminal contexts.

Install a home security system

High-quality home security systems enable users to safeguard their residences and family.

Utilize antivirus software

Antivirus software searches for malware, viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other online threats on computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Use a password manager

 Password managers allow users to securely store their usernames and passwords in encrypted vaults, requiring only master passwords or biometrics to access their accounts.

Change passwords only when needed

they should only change them when necessary. Recent studies suggest that changing passwords should only be done if the account itself has been compromised.

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