Password Safety Tips

Just when you started to think that it was safe to re-enter the world of online finances, it seems that a whole new security breach of epic proportions may have set us all back to square one. So what recently happened? Well it was announced yesterday that a “Russian gang” stole over 1.2 BILLION username and password combinations. What does this mean to you? It’s time to start watching everything like a hawk again and to change your passwords! We become too complacent with our passwords and tend to use what works for us or that we can remember. We need to buff up that security, though, and here are the top 3 expert tips to help keep your accounts safe online!

1. Use different passwords! Don’t have all 25 (just a random number, of course) different usernames, emails, and financial accounts that you use be protected by the same passwords! Have at least a handful of detailed passwords that you can use, and if you need to have something like Keeper, a password manager, store them so you don't need to remember them all.
2. Make your passwords difficult. Unfortunately the most commonly used passwords are still “password” and “1234567.” This habit is almost the equivalent of handing out your debit card number and pin code to random strangers that pass you by (or worse). Start the habit of creating long and complex passwords for your important accounts. Use numbers, symbols, capital letters, and lowercase letters. Make your password phases or short sentences instead of single words. The more complex your passwords are the safer you are.
3. Change your passwords regularly! Just because you've officially come up with the password of all passwords doesn't mean you're infinitely safe. To be safe you need to still update and change your passwords on a relatively regular basis.