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We talk about all sorts of security on a regular basis. How secure are you in your body? How secure are you in social scenarios? One question that we rarely ask is, how secure are you…digitally? The answer is most likely: not very. 90% of passwords are hackable and that is definitely problematic if you, like most college students, tend to make your password for email, social media sites, and bank accounts exactly the same. Around this time last year, my email was hacked and my hacker gained access to my credit card information; needless to say, I could have used some advice regarding digital security.
Intel and McAfee have initiated a campaign for password security that will launch May 7th–now known as Password Day. The campaign intends to provide individuals with the tools necessary to maintain a secure online identity. Below are a few tips for safe password practices.
- This is one of the few instances in which you aren’t expected to share. Don’t ever share your password in person (your friends) or online (legitimate websites don’t ask!).
- Use a phrase rather than a short password. Short passwords and random characters are much easier to hack than a phrase.
- Don’t base your password on personal information. Personal information does not make for a good password.
- Go for length! The longer your password is, the better.
- Set yourself up for security. Maintain different passwords for your various accounts. Multiple passwords help to ensure digital security.
Do you plan to take part in the campaign and improve your digital security? Let us know in the comment box or shout out #changedmypassword to @HCPrinceton on Twitter. If you’re interested in more info, you can also check out the video below!