{"id":21836,"date":"2024-07-09T05:30:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T12:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mcafee.com\/?p=21836"},"modified":"2024-07-09T10:40:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T17:40:04","slug":"secure-your-passwords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/secure-your-passwords\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Passwords Secure"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to passwords, most of us would love nothing more than to set it and forget it. But that\u2019s exactly what hackers are hoping for \u2014 in fact, it makes their job a lot easier. This means the best line of defense is\u202ffrequent password changes.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But how often should you create\u202fnew passwords?\u202fCybersecurity experts\u202frecommend changing your password every three months. There may even be situations where you should change your password immediately, especially if a\u202fcybercriminal\u202fhas access to your account.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This article explores those exact situations and covers some of the best\u202fpassword practices\u202fyou can use to help safeguard these important combinations of letters and numbers.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change your password immediately if:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Your account was hacked: <\/span><\/b>If you think someone has hacked your account, it\u2019s important to act fast and change your password. Did everyone in your address book get a strange email that looks like it\u2019s from you? Change your email password. Are your Facebook friends getting a new friend request from you? Something\u2019s not right, so you\u2019ll want to change your password. This can help limit the amount of time a\u202fcybercriminal\u202fhas access to your account.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. You are part of a\u202fdata breach: <\/span><\/b>If there\u2019s a\u202fpassword breach\u202fat work or within a company you do business with, you\u2019ll want to change the password for any affected accounts. If you use that password for any other websites, you\u2019ll definitely want to change your password to those accounts. If hackers get access to your password, they may try it on multiple websites to see what else they can steal.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. You used an unsecured network: <\/span><\/b>As much as possible, try to avoid logging into your secure accounts on public Wi-Fi, such as at a library or cafe. Generally, an unsecured network means your online activity is public. If you need to use an unsecured network, change your password once you\u2019re on a secure network.\u202f\u202fIt can also be a good idea to look into a smart VPN like\u202f<\/span>McAfee Secure VPN<\/span><\/a>, which automatically turns on to protect your personal data and credit card information even if you need to use public Wi-Fi.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. You discover\u202fmalware: <\/span><\/b>Your personal information could be at risk if\u202fmalware infects\u202fyour computer. If you have high-quality\u202f<\/span>antivirus software<\/span><\/a>\u202f(like what\u2019s included in McAfee+) and it detects\u202fmalware, you\u2019ll want to change your passwords from another device.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. You remove people from the account: <\/span><\/b>If you no longer have contact with someone, there\u2019s no need for them to remain on your\u202fNetflix\u202for\u202fAmazon\u202faccount. There\u2019s also no need for an ex to share a\u202fbank account\u202for have mobile\u202fapp access. Create\u202fnew passwords\u202fwhen you\u2019re no longer sharing an account with someone.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. You no longer use certain accounts: <\/span><\/b>You may have an account you haven\u2019t used in a year, such as from an online retailer. Change\u202fold passwords\u202ffor seldom-used accounts and close the account if you don\u2019t intend to use it again.\u202f<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to create a\u202fstrong password<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    A\u202fgood password\u202fcan make it more difficult for hackers to access your accounts. But what exactly makes a\u202fstrong password? Here are a few criteria.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n