Creating a Strong Password For Your Work Account

Do you need to change or create a new password for a login at work? Read on to learn some ways you can make the new password strong for your work account.

Make It Unique

One of the most important things you can do is to never use the same password twice. It can be tempting to use the same login across websites. But if someone hacks into one account, they will then know the password to all of your other accounts. If you can’t make your password completely unique, at least separate your work from personal. Then, if someone accesses your personal accounts, your work accounts will still be safe. And you won’t have to worry about someone infiltrating all of your emails and other accounts.

Mix Up Characters

You may have an idea for a unique password, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be secure. Consider if your password is a word, such as “theoffice”. That password only includes letters, so it can be relatively easy for a hacker to guess. Try to mix up characters, like letters, numbers, and symbols. Use both capital and lowercase letters to help mix things up and make your password harder to guess. You can even replace letters with numbers or symbols that look similar. So now, you may set your password to be something such as “Th3Off!c3,” which has the same origin as the other password but is a bit more secure.

Use More Characters

You can also make your password stronger by making it longer. No matter which types of characters you use, a longer password may require more tries for a hacker to guess. So instead of a password such as “Th3Off!c3”, you make your password “1L0V3Th3Off!c3”. This type of password will still be easy for you to remember because its origin is “I love the office.” However, you may be able to keep hackers guessing to figure out a complex password. Figure out if your work account  passwords have a maximum character limit, and get as close to that as you can.

Switch to Biometrics

If possible, consider using a passwordless login, such as biometrics. Biometrics can include your fingerprint or a face scan so you’re the only one who can access the account. Not only will you be able to keep others from getting into your email or another program, but you don’t have to remember a complex password. Not all programs or devices will work with biometrics. So consider the programs and devices you need to use with passwords. Then, you will be able to use biometric logins for the compatible programs, and you can choose strong passwords for other programs.

Avoid Identifying Information

Another thing to consider when creating a password is the inspiration for your password. Using your name, address, or birthday in your password can be tempting. Using the names or birthdays of your pets or kids can also be appealing. But skilled hackers can learn that information easily. Once they figure out your name or birthday, they can narrow their search for your password. Make sure not to include any personal information anywhere in your password so that it will be harder for people to guess.

Change Up a Phrase

A better option to come up with a password is to use a phrase or quote. Maybe your parents always said the same thing when you grew up. Or perhaps you have a favorite book or movie. You can take a quote or phrase from the media to use as your starting point. However, you need to use the other tips, such as changing the characters. So instead of using the letter “E,” use the number “3”. Instead of using the letter “I,” include an exclamation point. Change up as many of the characters as you can to make it harder for hackers to figure out. But you’ll be able to remember the password relatively easily.

Conclusion

Creating strong passwords may seem difficult, but it’s crucial. Keep these tips in mind the next time you need to change your login information for your work account.