IndependentRecent research by NordPass shows that many Belgians use passwords that are easy to guess. What they do not realize enough is that this can have serious consequences, as it makes you an easy target for online hackers. Last year, as many as half a million Belgians were victims of a data breach. How can you prevent your Facebook account or WiFi network from being hacked? With these six simple tips from Independer.be you can create an uncrackable password.
By Yannick Jansen, in collaboration with Independer
27-04-24, 13:20
Source:
Independer.be
Room for improvement
Last year, the most used password in Belgium was ‘admin’, which was identified no fewer than 3,075 times during the study. ‘passw00rd and ‘123456’ are also in the top three. Please note: these types of passwords can be hacked in less than a second. However, many people find it difficult to come up with a secure password. You too? Then the six tips below can certainly help you.
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Tip 1: long, longer, longest
It is crucial to use a long password. The longer, the harder it is for hackers to crack it. So go for one with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 63 characters. Be creative and think about the things you like to do in everyday life. This way you can add different elements to your password and make it longer – and more complicated.
Tip 2: capital letters and special characters
In addition to a long password, capital letters and special characters make it even harder for scammers to figure it out. Do not use capital letters only at the beginning of a word or sentence, as we are used to. Spread them in different places or use them, for example, at the end.
Special characters – such as dashes, underscores, punctuation marks or exclamation points – can also strengthen your password. The more of these characters you use, the smaller the chance of a successful hack.
Tip 3: ’73’ or ’59’
Add numbers to your password to make it even more difficult for online hackers. Be careful how you use your numbers: for example, avoid obvious series of numbers such as ‘123456789’. Instead, look for numbers that are not consecutive and are easy to remember.
Tip 4: use a different password for all your accounts
Although following the steps above can make your password more secure, many people still make the mistake of using the same password everywhere. This is risky, especially if, for example, a data breach occurs.
So it is smart to set a different password for each account. Come up with a strong option for your Facebook, but also for your email account and your Instagram profile. That way, even if a password is compromised, scammers won’t have access to all your accounts and the damage can be limited.
Tip 5: change it regularly
The older your password, the greater the chance that it will be hacked. To maintain optimal security, it is therefore advisable to change your password every few months. When choosing a new version, always make sure you take the above tips into account.
It’s not just your password that you need to examine: by regularly comparing telecom rates, you can significantly reduce your mobile phone costs.
Tip 6: Download an administrator
Have you followed all the steps, but are you still afraid that you will forget your passwords? Understandable. Then it might be a smart option to download a password manager on your phone. This is an app that functions as a digital safe in which you can store all your passwords. The only thing you have to remember is that administrator’s password. Some examples of apps you can use for this are Dashlane, 1Password and Keepass.
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This article was brought to you by our partner Independer.be.
Independer.be is an independent comparator that helps you compare and take out insurance, telecom packages and other fixed costs.
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