This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Riverside chapter.
Join Intel for Password Day on May 7th! This campaign was created in order to celebrate online security and safety. It is important to have a strong password so that you protect your online accounts and identity. And as college students whose lives revolve around the internet, I bet a lot of us have a bunch of different accounts for things like Twitter, online banking, school sites, etc. And let’s be honest here, how many of us are using the same password for multiple accounts?
1. Use the password, “password”
That was a joke! I really hope no one is using that as a password, if so CHANGE IT!
Try using phrases instead. Phrases make a better password than random characters. Try making your password the answer to a movie trivia question. In Clueless, when Tai offends Cher, what is her response? “Way Harsh Tai” OR think about your first kiss. Was it “gross and moist” or “passionate and sensual”. Whatever you come up with, make sure your password is strong, unique, and easy to remember. Get creative!
2. Want to check if your password is strong enough? Click here!
Security Best Practices
1. Don’t Click that Ad! (Scareware, malware)
– banner ads that claim you have a virus, that they can scan to make sure you don’t have one, etc.
2. Don’t click that link! (Phishing)
– SMS links from someone you don’t know (Bobby Smith has sent you an e-mail!)
– email links with no other info (www.cutekittens.com I know it might be tempting, but don’t click it)
3. Don’t use that flash drive!
– don’t plug in flash drives you randomly find. (“But it was FREE!”…Just don’t, leave it where you found it or return to your nearest lost and found)
4. Don’t divulge that information! (Social Engineering)
– Never give passwords, pin numbers, account information, etc, online, no matter who is asking.