Do you need to up your password game? Here are some reasons why you should choose your password wisely and keep it private:

• Hackers don’t stop hacking and their attacks get increasingly sophisticated.
• According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), hackers gained entry to networks using Brute Force 21% of the time. (Source: Cyber Security News Hub)
• Brute Force Attack is a method that involves an automation which allows the tool to cycle through common passwords and the slight variations people use (such as spring2024 to Summer2024) at an accelerated pace.
• When passwords are easy to guess, attackers who use Brute Force Attack method have a greater chance of success in cracking those passwords in a matter of seconds.
• Most attackers are fully aware that humans like to use one password across multiple accounts, so they attack using credential stuffing.  This attack occurs when a cybercriminal takes stolen login credentials found in a previous data breach and tries those credentials in other online accounts and apps.
• Weak passwords make it easy for a cybercriminal to access your credit cards, social media accounts, email accounts, financial accounts (bank, payment services such as Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, etc.) and more.

Here are some tips to create stronger passwords.

Do:

• Choose passwords of at least 12 or more characters that include (you guessed it!) upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.
• Create a unique password for every account.
• Update your passwords regularly, such as every three to six months.
• Consider enabling multifactor authentication (MFA) to create an added barrier to entry.
• Make your passwords a cluster of unrelated words (Ex. Elephant Flame Paisley Soccer Yoda) and add some numbers and special characters for added strength.
• Or better yet, use a password manager + password generator to create really strong passwords.

Avoid:

• Using personal identifiers such as names, pet/kid names, birthday, etc.
• Using patterns such as consecutive numbers, letters, etc.
• Reusing old passwords.
• Making slight substitutions or variations from previous passwords such as going from HARDTOGUESSPASSWORD1 to HARDTOGUESSPASSWORD2.
• Using the same password for work emails and personal emails.
• Storing your passwords in an easily accessible place.
• Sharing your password with others.

You’ll find varied advice on what constitutes a strong password. No security measure is 100% secure so give it your best shot, knowing you’ve done your part to protect your sensitive data.