Omid Farhang
Table of Contents
Treat your passwords with as much care as you treat the information that they protect.
Use strong passwords to log on to your computer and to any site where you enter your credit card number, or any financial or personal information — including social networking sites. A password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass, or similar) makes it practical to use a unique, strong password for every account.
1. Never provide your password over e-mail
Internet “phishing” scams use fraudulent e-mail messages to entice you to reveal your user names and passwords, steal your identity, and more. Learn more about phishing scams.
2. Do not type passwords on computers you do not control
Computers such as those in Internet cafes, computer labs, kiosk systems, conferences, and airport lounges should be considered unsafe for any personal use other than anonymous Internet browsing.
Cyber criminals can purchase keystroke logging devices which gather information typed on a computer, including passwords.
3. Don’t reveal passwords to others
Keep your passwords hidden from friends or family members (especially children) who could pass them on to other, less trustworthy individuals.
4. Protect any recorded passwords
- Don’t store passwords in a plain-text file on your computer, because criminals will look there first. A password manager encrypts them.
- If you must write passwords down, keep your record in a safe, secure place — not on a sticky note on your monitor.
5. Use more than one password
Use different passwords for different Web sites and services. A password manager makes this effortless.