Change Passwords

This article will explain some of the reasons for changing your passwords and give you tips on how to choose the best passwords to foil identity thieves and protect yourself.

Why Change Passwords?

• The longer you use your password, the more likely it is that someone (anyone) will figure it out.

• Certain information is very commonly used in passwords, and identity thieves often take advantage of the fact to gain access to your information. For instance, a disgruntled co-worker may know your birthday. If your birthday is used as a password, this person could easily gain that information. The same goes for a jealous neighbor who may know your pet’s name. Don’t use the name of a pet, child, or loved one as a password.

• You should never give out your passwords. That said, in some cases it becomes necessary to give out your password. For instance, you may need to tell the babysitter the password for the home security system. Or, you may need to give a computer repair technician your password to repair a problem. If you must give out a password, be certain to immediately change passwords afterwards.

Choosing a Good Password

• Any good password must be memorable. You will have to commit this password to memory. You should never write down a password unless you immediately destroy the writing once you commit the password to memory.
• Passwords should be several characters long. Many program requirements specify that passwords must be at least six characters long. Some sophisticated programs even require that passwords contain letters and numbers. Passwords with a combination of letters and numbers are difficult to guess.
• Your password should not be a word found in the dictionary. This includes words found in any dictionary, English or foreign.
• Avoid using a password that is a person’s name, or the name of a character from movies, television, books, etc.
• When you change passwords, trying using upper case letters with lower case letters in your password. Include punctuation and numbers. The more you mix it up, the better the password.

More Tips to Change Passwords

Today, passwords are used to protect everything including the doors and windows to your home, your email account, even your bank account. Some people need to access several passwords in any given day. Typically, you want to access your passwords quickly and efficiently instead of stumbling around trying to figure out what that password may be.

Using the same password for different reasons is very dangerous. The thief that figures out your email password would then have figured out your ATM password.

When you change passwords, consider precisely what the password is designed to protect. If the password is not protecting personal or financial information or does not let a stranger impersonate you by sending e-mail as you, the password can probably be fairly simple. Your most complex passwords should be used to protect your most important information. For instance, your ATM password should be extremely complex. However, the password that gives you access to a monthly online newsletter can probably be less complicated. In either case, your most secure passwords should not be similar to your less complex passwords.

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