A password is one the best ways to protect confidential files, trade secrets and other pertinent data. It is also a security measure that is perfectly free to use. It is not fail-proof, however. Hackers love to decode passwords, decrypt encrypted files and just wield their power over passwords. But you can make their lives a bit harder by using a strong and safe password.

If you take the necessary precautions to make it more difficult for them to hack your accounts, then you are doubly protected. But how to go about this process?

What makes a password harder to decode?

• It is never a single word
• It doesn’t contain a name, especially the file owner’s name
• It is not linked in any way to birthdays and other personal information that people are familiar with
• It is not easy to remember, for other people, that is
• It contains 8 characters or more, and is a combination of words and numbers

Well, you just have the perfect password in mind. But you’re still not out of the woods, so to speak. There are still many ways that the strongest of password can unlock the doors to all your best-kept secrets. What do you need to do, then?

Don’t use the same password more than once

The quickest way to make yourself vulnerable is to have a favorite password, which you use on almost all your accounts – from emails to online banking. What are the odds that hackers will discover one password and then try it out on all accounts associated with you?

Don’t save a copy of your passwords in your computer

A list of passwords should be kept in a safe, chained and padlocked, and then thrown out to sea. Well, you get the idea. It’s a huge mistake to save it in your computer, even if it’s embedded way deep inside tons of subfolders. It’s even worse if you write it on a Post-It note and then stick it under the bed. Hackers may only have the internet to reach you, but other people could find it and use it for their own personal agenda.

Do be proactive

Don’t be that person who skips using a password, because you have nothing to hide or secure. Any information can be used by hackers in many ways, most of which may not be good for you. So encrypt what needs to be kept secure. When you are part of a huge organization, company breach can start with you. Even if you think that your work is inconsequential, the lack of password is like leaving the doors of your home wide open for thieves and burglars.

Do keep passwords updated

Hackers don’t stay idle for long. Why do you think anti-virus applications have to be updated as often as possible? The same thing is true with hackers targeting passwords. They won’t stop at one failed attempt. They also use sophisticated software that will do the decrypting for them. So, if you don’t update your password, especially with online banking and similar accounts, you would leave yourself open to hacking.

Bottom Line

Having a strong password gives you an edge, but only when you take other precautions. In this day and age when connectivity is essential, a password gives you one form of protection.