Secure passwords are the first line of defense against fraud, scams, and bad actors. Weak passwords can, and do, get hacked. In light of this, I have outlined below the current best-practice recommendations for creating a strong password. Additionally, a password manager (AKA a password generator) will also do the trick.
1. Have a minimum of 12 characters.
2. Include upper and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters.
3. Should contain no personal information (names, addresses, phone numbers, employers, etc.)
4. Avoid simple dictionary words.
Once you have a good password in place, continue to protect yourself by following the suggestions below.
1. Use a different password for each site that stores your personal information. Especially email, banks, medical logins, etc.
2. Change your password at least every three months. Add it to the calendar!
3. ALWAYS use two-factor or dual authentication whenever possible.
a. It is recommended to use a verification app over text/SMS messages. This is because a phone number itself can be hijacked via the wireless service provider.
It is important to SilverPeak Wealth that our clients are protected. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for further information, assistance, or questions.