Password Tips

If you use a password or other secret codes like most of us, you must protect them because they validate (or authenticate) your identity. You probably own and use a bunch of secret codes such as Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to access the cash in your checking, savings or credit card accounts using the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) or use a password to access various websites on the internet to manage your accounts, or simply log into the corporate network when you're at the office. As you can see, the list is unlimited in terms of usage of secret codes in the modern day we live in. As I stated, the secret codes validate who you are and must be protected. The consequences of theft and misuse of your personal secret codes by criminals are unlimited and could be grave if you do not take the necessary steps to protect them. Also, the financial institutions consider the safeguard of the security codes to be your responsibility and therefore, you may be liable for the consequences as a result of their mismanagement. Some of the consequences may include unauthorized:

1- Cash withdrawal from various accounts and credit cards

2- Stock trades

3- Internet account modifications

4- Changes to your own web site

5- Views of your personal files or that of your clients'

6- Modification of all personal and corporate files

7- Reading of your e-mails or sending e-mails with your name

8- Entry into sensitive locations within the company

These are just some examples and identity thieves can be pretty creative when it comes to using someone else's secret codes or identity, when given the opportunity.

Now that I have your attention, here are a few things you can do to protect your secret codes:

1- Never write them down to remember them later. Memorize the main ones or the high risk ones.

2- If you had to write some of them down, then write only the less critical ones and write them in a coded matter (or encrypted) that only you can remember what the secret code was. I personally use my own coding system (or encryption) which utilizes foreign languages, secret words like favorite dog name, and combination of letters and numbers from my name, date of birth or other secret codes.

3- Don't share your secret codes with others, not even your kids. Your spouse is another matter if you want to live!

4- Make your secret codes or passwords pretty strong and difficult for others to guess what they are. For example, use at least a 5 character long password, and make those 5 characters a combination of letters and number, upper or lower case, or even special characters like "@", "%" and "$".

5- Change your secret code often. The frequency by which you should change your passwords and other secret codes depends on the sensitivity of the information that the secret code can access. Changing the secret codes frequently will primarily ensure that you stop the use of your secret codes by a person who has obtained them and has been using them for a while without your knowledge.

6- Never store your secret codes along with your account numbers, e-mail address or your access cards. This will really make the day for the identity thieves. Can you imagine the gold mine your can deliver to identity thieves if they got the hold of your wallet with the ATM card and the PIN attached to it?

7- Don't use known personal information as passwords. Some people may use their social security number, date of birth and other known personal information as their passwords. This is not smart especially since a lot of these personal information are already known to the public or can easily be guessed.

8- Try not to use the same passcode for all your major accounts. Again, this is about reducing risk. If your passcode becomes known, it will provide access to many major accounts. Reduce your risk by limiting each passcode access.

9- Don't store your passcodes on your PC. Especially, if you use your PC to access the internet. You will expose your passcodes to unnecessary and greater risks if you do.

Return to home page from "password and other secret code tips".