Safety first. Therefore taking care of your data protection is an important task, as well as creating a strong and secure password.
What make a secure password?
1. Create a long password.
To be secure the password should be both long and random, that is it should contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The password should be at least eight and up to sixteen characters long. The more the better.
2. Don't use a common phrase.
Passphrases are becoming more and more popular, but they are easy to guess if it is obvious and is connected to you or the account. And do not make a mistake thinking that using an exclamation point instead of "I" or "3" for an "E" will confuse the attackers.
The algorithms used to crack passwords are already created taking into account common phrases and even letter substitutions.
3. Don't reuse your password.
Over half of all people use the same password for all of their websites and apps. This is a common and very dangerous case. Hackers maintain dictionary lists of the most commonly used passwords. They also know that if they manage to hack one account of the person, they will be able to get an access to their other accounts due to the high frequency of password reuse. Thus, the more you reuse passwords, the easier it is for an attacker to gain access to every your account with the same password.
4. Use a password manager.
If you create passwords the right way (which means they are long, with lots of numbers and symbols), it is hard to keep track of all of them. This is when the password manager comes in handy. It allows you to have multiple passwords for all accounts and it remembers them.
Password managers usually store your passwords in an encrypted storage and should therefore be more secure than other password storage methods. They also can suggest a possible passwords; allow you to enter your account, store and remember long complex passwords; identify duplicate or reused passwords and correct them. Using a password management app will allow you to create stronger passwords as remembering each of them becomes unnecessary.
5. Don't store passwords in your browser.
You think storing passwords in your browser means you always have them at your fingertips. But it is not worth it. Password managers are security companies designed to protect your data. But the same standards are not applied to browsers for managing passwords.
If a hacker obtains control of your browser, then they can see all your accounts and passwords. It is not worth taking such a risk.
6. Follow the rules every time.
Long and strong, with lowercase letters, numbers and symbols, complicated passwords that don't explain anything are the best.
7. Use two-factor authentication.
Any extra security you can put in is a good idea, and two-factor authentication means that just having a password will not be enough. Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to secure an access to your accounts, making it much harder to hack. This second layer may consist of an application for generating a code on a smartphone or a digital key.
If you have a two-factor system installed, it means that even if the perpetrator has your username and password, they will still need your cell phone for access.
8. Consider the passphrase method.
The passphrase method basically consists of random words to generate a secure password. This is a good way to create a strong, long password.
Passphrases are becoming more and more common. Therefore, it is best to use it in combination with a password manager.
9. Use security questions wisely.
While security questions may seem to help by adding an extra layer of protection, they also can do more harm than good.
It is important to choose questions that offer a certain level of privacy, meaning you are the only one who really knows the correct answer.
10. Monitor your smartphone.
Most people store all their private information on their smartphones. When a hacker can gain physical access to your device, the chances of hacking it increase exponentially.
Useful information for internet users here.