Managing your passwords may seem exhausting, but it’s vital to the security of your device and all your personal information. Here are some best practices to keep in mind as you create accounts and shop online.

1. Don’t reuse passwords. Reusing passwords means that if one account is hacked, others will be too. That may turn a small problem into an exponentially larger one.
2. Never share passwords with anyone. Giving someone else your password means the door is open for them to accidentally leak it to a harmful source—whether through getting hacked or something else.
3. Use multi-factor authentication. It might be a bit annoying to get a text or answer a question every time you log in, but it will keep your accounts much more secure than a simple password. Learn more about multi-factor authentication.
4. Don’t use your name, birthdate, or other publicly available information. Pet names, favorite sport teams, and car models, are easy for password-hacking programs to crack.
5. Create long, strong passwords. Never use a single word or combination of words found in a dictionary, as these can be quickly cracked by “brute force” hacking programs. Use phrases that are hard to guess but easy for you to remember. 12 characters or more is best.

Adapted from the article “50 Internet Safety Tips for 2023,” published by Deseret First Credit Union”.