Passwords. They’re the key to keeping our lives secure, yet so often the bane of our existence when forgotten, lost, or breached.
That’s why every year on first Thursday of May, World Password Day reminds us to stop and take stock of our password security—before it’s too late.
What Is World Password Day?
Now, you’re unlikely to break out a cake and candles forWorld Password Day; it’s probably not at the top of your yearly reminders. But given the importance of passwords is pretty much universal, taking a day to look at your password security is no bad thing.
First launched in 2012 by tech giant Intel, World Password Day has grown surprisingly over the years into a yearly reminder that password security is vital to keeping your accounts secure. Given most folks now control a huge number of accounts—up to 240 according toDashlane—it’s harder than ever to maintain your security.
And that’s really the crux of World Password Day: a reminder that account security doesn’t have to be a challenge, especially given how many ways there are to protect your accounts now. The days of “qwertyuiop” should be long gone, and don’t even think about adding numerical increments to your go-to password. No, the password management options available to almost anyone these days should mean each and every one of your accounts is secured with an extremely strong password.
How to Create a Strong, Unique Password: The Basics
MakeUseOf is celebratingWorld Password Daywith a week covering the best password tips and tricks to keep your accounts safe and secure. But there are some handy password creation tips you can take away immediately to start locking down your digital footprint.
Oh, and there is one password myth you should avoid: regularly updating your passwords is a big no-no. In the past, this was considered good practice, but actually leads to the exact problems detailed above: short, easy-to-remember passwords with incremental changes. For example, you initially use “sunflowers1”, but your organization makes you reset it each month. Instead of creating a strong password each time, you just change the number, so it’s simple to remember. Easy for the memory,terriblefor security.
World Password Dayis a great time to take stock and check your online accounts. Checking your passwords doesn’t take as long as you think, and it could be the difference between keeping your accounts secure and spending hours trying to recover them.
World Password Week on MakeUseOf
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