http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/how-to-protect-your-passwords-1.2998521
How to . . . protect your passwords
From common sense to tech help
Ciara O'Brien â¢about an hour ago
We rely heavily on online services these days - or at least many of us do. From
email and social networking to online banking, we trust that the passwords we
create will keep prying eyes out and our details safe. But how can you make
sure no one else gets hold of your confidential login details?
Be sensible
Donât reuse the same password and email login combo on numerous sites. If
your details for one site are compromised, the rest of your services are at
risk. Steer clear of obvious passwords, such as your date of birth, your
childâs name, and so on. Anything that is easily guessed should be
immediately dismissed.
Use alphanumeric passwords
If you use a simple four digit codes or the bare minimum for passwords using
all lowercase letters, you are putting your information at risk. The longer and
more complex your password is, the harder it is to guess. You could use a
sentence or phrase as a password, and swap some letters out for numbers, add a
capital letter and a symbol. Or you could allow
Most online services will force you to have a password that is a mix of numbers
and letters; others take it a step further and insist on a capital letter or
two, or possibly a symbol.
Should you let your browser save your passwords?
Itâs tempting. When that little box pops up to prompt you to save your
passwords in the browser, the idea that you can not only save them but sync
them across all your devices when you are signed in can seem like the answer to
all your problems. But think twice before you click Yes. Although passwords are
generally encrypted, it doesnât mean they are completely safe. Last year,
Opera was the victim of a successful hack that saw some of its user details -
including some sync information.
If you are playing it safe, skip the convenient option.
Use a password manager
If you are following best practice on password security, youâll choose a
password that is a randomly generated sequence of numbers, letters and symbols.
Unfortunately, these are rarely easy to remember.
So whatâs the alternative? Writing them down and keeping a hard copy may not
be practical for most users, so perhaps looking at a password manager might be
the best approach. These are standalone apps and software that will not only
save your passwords securely but also help you generate stronger login
credentials. Theyâre protected with a master password, meaning you only need
to generate and remember one strong password to access everything.
There is the caveat that you are now entrusting the security of your accounts
to a single service; make sure you have a strong master password and keep an
eye on security updates. Hereâs a few suggestions:
LastPass:
A free service for those using it on smartphones, LastPass is a password
manager that allows you to store and save all your credentials for sites such
as Facebook and Twitter, and will also randomly generate passwords for you on
request. Once you have logged into your LastPass app, you can also open sites
within the app, so you could access your Facebook page for example. There are
some free elements - the app on your iPhone, for example - but others require
you to sign up and pay.
1Password:
1Password gives you the option of where you store your passwords: offline, your
local network or online through syncing with Dropbox or iCloud. Itâs
encrypted end to end, so your data is protected. Thereâs a 14 day trial,
after which youâll have to cough up to use the service.
Dashlane:
Dashlane can be synced across all your devices, but you have to approve each
one. That adds an extra layer of security to your account, which is handy if
you plan on using the digital wallet that the service also offers. You can
store everything from your email password to your credit card number in
Dashlane, and itâs all encrypted to keep everything secure.
Sent from my iPhone
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