The importance of a good password.

A good password.

There are some key points you need to take into consideration when creating a password, reducing the risk of a hacker cracking it and making their way onto your accounts online.

A good password.

Here's a few things that make a good password:

• Should at least be 12 characters long.
• Contains uppercase and lowercase letters.
• contains special symbols. (&, %, !...)
• Doesn't contain keyboard paths (QWERTY, ASDF, 1234...)
• Must not be based on personal information.

Do you reuse your passwords?

• I regularly reuse my passwords on different sites.
• I sometimes reuse my paswords on different sites.
• I never reuse my passwords on different sites.
• I have a few passwords I use for inconsequential sites.

Do you reuse your passwords?

Reusing your passwords is an easy way of remembering a lot of different passwords at once, but it isn't a good idea.

Reusing your passwords puts you at risk of potentially having a lot of accounts compromised at once. To a hacker, it's like finding your keychain instead of just a single key, now he just has to figure out where else you have accounts.

Instead of reusing your passwords, focus on creating more memorable ones instead.

Do you use Two Factor Authentication (2FA)?

• I avoid using 2FA.
• I use 2FA whereever I can.
• I only use 2FA for very important things.

Do you use Two Factor Authentication (2FA)?

Two factor authentication can be an excellent way of securing your online presence. Some may even argue it is the best way.

Two factor authentication is an extra layer of security, which in combination with a good password can make it nearly impossible for a would-be hacker to gain access to your account.

Do you use a password manager?

• I use a password manager.
• I don't use a password manager, but know what it is.
• I'm not sure what a password manager is.

Do you use a password manager?

Password managers are a great and easy way of remembering and creating very complex passwords. If you have trouble remembering your passwords, and instead resort to using poor passwords or reusing your passwords, this is the tool for you.

Check out Lastpass or Google Passwords for a couple examples of what a password manager can do.

For your workplace, password practices...

• Are a shared responsibility.
• Are up to each individual employee.
• Are not a concern. My workplace has great data protection.

For your workplace, password practices...

It is extremely important that you as an employee understand that your password is extremely important, no matter what kind of security net lies behind it.

You put not just yourself at risk with a weak password and poor practices, but your entire workplace.

One password leaked could potentially mean a larger breach of security, as they may use your account to gather information about the inner workings of the platform. They can then use this information to enact a larger scale attack on your workplace.

For your workplace, password practices...

Many businesses take great care to inform their employees that password practices are extremely important to keep in mind.

Especially for such sensitive areas such as the financial sector, a poor password can lead to extreme consequences, due to the sheer scale and importance of the data / economics that lie behind.

If you weren't previously advised by your workplace on your internal password policy, make sure to bring it up. It's your job and the future of your workplace on the line!