Four Steps to Strengthen Your Password

In today's digital age, creating a strong password is crucial. As cyber threats continue to evolve, a strong password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access to your personal information and accounts. Check out these four steps to build a strong password and ensure the protection of your finances.

Go Long: Aim for ten or More Characters

The strength of your password increases with its length, so try to aim for ten characters or more. Longer passwords are more complex to hack, and the number of possible combinations increases exponentially with each additional character. A long, more complicated password can improve your defenses against unauthorized access and potential cyber threats.

Mix it Up: Combine Letters, Numbers, and Symbols

When creating a password, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols, such as "P@sW0rd! It adds complexity and makes it harder to guess.

Use Passphrases for Secure Passwords

When creating passwords, it's crucial to avoid predictable patterns, such as sequences or repeated characters that are easy to guess, such as "1234" or "aaa." Also, avoid using easily accessible personal information, like birthdays, anniversaries, or street names. Instead, consider embracing passphrases by creating a passphrase of several words that are meaningful to you but random to others. For example, "CoffeeTableBookSunshine" is longer, memorable, and significantly more secure than a shorter, simple password.

Get Creative. Use Acronyms and Different Spellings

Use acronyms, take the first letters of a sentence or phrase you enjoy, and convert them into a password. For example, "I love to eat pizza on Sundays!" can be transformed into "Il2epoS!" Another method is to use creative spellings in your password. This includes replacing letters with numbers, for example, "E4sterBunny," or adding special characters, like in Re@d1ngT1me.

Update Your Password Regularly

You should update your password every 3-4 months, but you should change it immediately for certain events.

• Your account is hacked. If you observe any unusual activity indicating a potential hack of your account, it is advisable to change your password without delay. Notify your bank or credit union immediately in the event of such occurrences. Apart from monitoring your accounts, use any fraud prevention features your bank or credit union offers. For instance, UNCLE Credit Union provides transaction alerts to notify you of suspicious occurrences. Should you receive a fraud alert, it's best to change your password as soon as possible.
• After a data breach: If a data breach has impacted you, contact all organizations you believe may have been affected and collaborate with them to reset all passwords.
• You remove someone from your account. Reset your passwords immediately after removing anyone from your account to secure your information and ensure they can no longer access your account.

Taking proactive measures for password security is the most effective form of protection. These four tips to create and maintain a strong password can help keep your personal information personal. Visit our fraud center for more tips and tools to protect your information.