Don’t Use the Same Password for Different Logins
Not so long ago, when online, you might have had just one password to remember for your email address. Nowadays however, it’s not uncommon to have dozens of passwords created for innumerable online services you’ve joined. And what happens? A good many people are inclined to utilise the very same password again and again. Some individuals may not think their Twitter account as being majorly vital, but it is if you’re using the same password as you are for your WorldPay account. Of course, the ease of having to remember just a single password is compelling, but what if a hacker gets hold of that single password? That’s right, they potentially have access to all of the servives you’ve signed up to that use that same password. And if you think they don’t know what other online services you’ve joined, it isn’t essential. They can launch web application programs which examine literally thousands of services against your account name/password pair that they know about.
This is an issue we all have to think about, but it is rather easily solved. The truth is, it’s not required to store every username/password. Let your browser do it. Be it your MySpace login or Email password. Ask your web browser to store each username/password, and then setup a central password (“master password”) just in case someone gets hold of your computer. Physical access to your computer will still require the knowledge of the master password to gain access to all the other passwords. Or to put it another way, you can join dozens of services, and simply have to actually remember one single password : your master password for your web browser.
Regarding passwords themselves, make them long and random, such as 8JJJfrfrt65K which is a mixture of lower and upper case characters and numbers. Since you don’t need to remember them, be as random as you wish. Whatever you do, don’t use normal words as your password, as these are effortless to discover for 3rd parties.
