Amidst all the holiday buzz, it's easy to forget about your online defenses. Think of your passwords as your house's front door; if you don't want anyone to enter, close it well.
During the holidays, the incidence of house break-ins is higher, and so is the number of account break-ins. Hackers use different techniques to take advantage of a weak password: brute force attacks (computer programs to guess different character combinations), dictionary attacks: programs to guess words from a dictionary), or social engineering, deceiving you into revealing your password.
But here's the scoop: knowing that hackers are on the prowl during the holidays even more than in any other period of the year gives you the upper hand. Strengthen your (digital) locks and keep your online world secure.
Weak passwords leave you vulnerable in several ways. Once a hacker knows your login credentials, they could:
#1. Create Strong Passwords for Your Accounts: Update your passwords for your email, banking, and social networking accounts. Follow these steps:
Avoid Password Recycling: Never reuse passwords, especially for accounts containing personal information. If one falls into the wrong hands, the other accounts will be compromised.
#2. Set up Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Here's why:
o They require an additional verification step beyond your password, often involving a one-time code sent to your personal device (usually your phone).
o Even if a hacker manages to get their hands on your password, they won't be able to log in without access to your personal device.
#3. Be careful with what you share online
Your personal information is like a treasure to cybercriminals. Sometimes, they can gain access to your accounts by simply looking at what you have shared online. So, limit the personal information you give away on social media and other websites.
If you'd rather spend your time on more exciting things than constantly changing or creating passwords, use Bitdefender Password Manager.
It generates, auto-saves, auto-fills, and manages your passwords for all websites and online services with the help of a single Master Password.
The Autofill feature is both safe and convenient; plus, if you enter a phishing website, you'll know because autofill doesn't work, you'll have a red flag before mistakenly logging in.
Without Bitdefender Password Manager | With Bitdefender Password Manager |
---|---|
You create/ update all your passwords, often ending up with ones that are too simple or repeated | Generate a secure, complex, and unique password for every new account, in a single click |
Write passwords down to remember them | Store your passwords immediately after creating them and keep them in an ultra-safe environment |
Remember the passwords. If not, deal with the frustration and spend time to recover/ change forgotten passwords. | Autofill credentials on visited websites, saving precious time |
Never knowing for sure whether a password is a duplicate, or too weak, or leaked in a breach | It constantly monitors breaches and issues alerts when usernames, e-mails, passwords, or credit cards are exposed |
Take the time to decide how you want to create your next strong password. The holidays are meant for relaxing and spending time with friends, family, and loved ones—not worrying about becoming a victim of cybercrime.
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Cristina is a freelance writer and a mother of two living in Denmark. Her 15 years experience in communication includes developing content for tv, online, mobile apps, and a chatbot.
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