concept of passwords

Why You Should Stop Using Your Favorite Password

26March,2020
By Hoffman Brown Insurance | | No Comments
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Avoid Using Your Favorite Password Over and Over Again

 

From banking online to ordering groceries to logging into social media accounts, we all need to use passwords to access our accounts. Part of staying safe and secure online has a lot to do with these passwords, even though we may not realize it. It’s common for people to use the same password across all of their accounts, from banking to Facebook to household utilities and email accounts.

 

Common Password Types

Passwords are often deeply personal expressions of oneself, with the goal of making them easier to remember. Take a look at the common password types that we like to rely on.

 

TypeCommon Definition
NameFirst or Common Name
WordGeneral work – Dictionary
Key WalkKeystroke pattern – easy to remember
SportsSport, Sports Team, League
PlaceEasily identifiable City, State, Country, Place
CharacterFictional Character
AnimalAnimal
FoodFood type, ingredient
UncategorizedAutomated/ Randomly Generated
CleverUnique/ Clever
PasswordVariation of the word “Password”
TransportationAutomobile, Transportation
ReligiousReligious Affiliation, Meaning or Person
WebsiteEmail Address or Common URL
LoveAssociation with the emotion/ feeling
NaughtyAssociation with controversial often vulgar terms
BandPopular Music of all genres
SeasonWeather/ Season related
ColorCommon Colors
GreetingCommon and Localized Greetings
MonthCalendar Months
MilitaryAssociation with military, war, weaponry
HoroscopeAstrological Signs
Alphabet WalkSequential pattern (alphanumeric & non alphanumeric)

 

Repeating Passwords

It’s estimated that the average US adult has between 90 and 135 applications that require a set of credentials needed for access. If someone manages to correctly guess your favorite password, then they have access to all of your online accounts. If your personal and financial information falls into the wrong hands, it can be difficult and expensive to repair.

 

Protect Your Passwords

Protect your accounts and protect your passwords by creating a strong one for each of your accounts. The general rules to follow are:

  • Minimum of 12 characters
  • Include numbers and symbols
  • Mix up upper- and lower-case letters
  • Don’t rely on obvious substitutions (e.g. H0us3)

 

Remember to change your passwords with the seasons. A few minutes of preparation now can help to secure your accounts and safeguard them from hackers.