Most of us have far too many accounts to remember a different password for each one. So people reuse the same password, or small variations of it, everywhere. The problem is that when one website gets hacked, criminals try that same email and password on banking, email and business accounts. It works far more often than it should.
Use a password manager
A password manager is a secure app that remembers your passwords for you. You remember one strong master password, and it creates and fills in a different, strong password for every site.
- It works on your computer and phone, and fills in logins automatically.
- It can warn you if a password has shown up in a known data breach.
- Businesses can share logins safely between staff, and remove access instantly when someone leaves.
- Well-known options include Bitwarden, 1Password and the managers built into Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Apple devices.
Making a strong master password
Use a passphrase: four or more random words strung together, like a short, odd sentence only you would think of. Long beats complicated. Don’t use it anywhere else.
Two things to do this week
- Change the password on your business email to a unique one, and turn on two-step login.
- Pick a password manager and start moving your most important accounts into it.
If you’d like help setting one up for your team, that’s a quick job for us.
Want a second opinion on your setup? Your first 15 minutes are on us. Call (403) 381-7080 or send us a message. Already a client and need help now? Start here.