“Passwords are like underwear: don't let people see it, change it very often, and you shouldn't share it with strangers.”
– Chris Pirillo
Most of us thought that if we have a set password on our email account, mobile phone, any other gadgets, then we are safe and nobody can look into your private space whatsoever, but the flip side is it is not the case, unfortunately!
There are almost 2 billion websites worldwide and you probably assume that most major websites are safe and secure and naturally with that assumption, we have our personal accounts on most of them for different purposes and uses. What you least know is that top websites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Dropbox have been breached. In fact 5 billion accounts have been stolen on these websites. So, how do you know if your account has been breached? Many of us may not be aware at all, but statistically speaking your Username and Passwords have already been stolen. Why haven't you seen the effects yet? Well it is likely that your account is one among the many whose account credentials have been stolen and your account is simply hasn't been selected as a target yet by the hackers.
If you have an e-mail account like G-mail, Hotmail, Yahoo, everyone knows your User Name, but it's only you who should be knowing your password on all these accounts. But if someone else knows it or needs your password, then he or she would only be an Hacker who have a malicious intent and / or an alternative motive to disrupt the normal functioning of your email account and further will indulge in personal identify theft. We should be aware that Passwords are a first line of defence in securing your information. Unfortunately, people often don't use strong passwords or change them frequently enough, making it easy for cyber criminals to gain access.
So, the first and foremost proactive step of defence is to ensure using a fairly complex and secure password and to activate a 2-factor authentication login. For more secured and private interactions Gmail, Twitter, FaceBook and many other social networking handles have setup option for its users to activate an additional (optional) layer of protection - the 2-factor login. When you activate the 2-factor login, and enter your password, the account sends a text message to your phone, providing you a unique authentication code you must enter before accessing the account.
Apart from the above, there is a simple trick to keep you account safe and secure. All you have to do is change your password 2-4 times in a year, however adhering to the strong password guidelines each and every time your change your password. So, if there is any attempt from an unknown person to intrude in to your account, he may not be able to do it that easily. However, if you want to test and verify if your account has been hacked or not, visit: https://haveibeenpwned.com. This tool allows you to quickly check to see if your account has been compromised, running a quick scan across multiple databases spread across the internet. You can search for a single email address, or all addresses in a particular domain. It also includes millions of real-world passwords previously exposed in data breaches so you can be sure to avoid these. Simple precautions can go a long way to keep your online accounts safe.
1Password for Journalists, Use this tool to store and access your passwords securely. This tool keeps you safe online by managing your multiple passwords and encrypting the files, notes and contacts that you need to keep secure. Sync seamlessly between devices, and log into websites, apps and networks with a single click. While travelling you can cross borders knowing that sensitive information is no longer on your device, and restore it when you reach your destination. 1Password provides an account free to verified journalists.
Few Key Tips:
Create strong passwords by using a minimum of fifteen characters that include a combination of UPPERCASE and lowercase letters, numbers 123456789, and special characters !@#$%^&*.
Do not use work-related passwords for personal accounts and vice versa.
Do not store passwords in web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.
To know how long it would take a computer to hack your exact password see this chart
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