avatarJulian Cosky

Summary

The article discusses methods for enhancing online security by using unique passwords for different accounts and suggests the use of a password manager.

Abstract

The article "How To Take Your Online Security To The Next Level" emphasizes the importance of using distinct passwords for various online accounts to prevent hackers from easily accessing multiple accounts with a single password. It introduces the "random 3-word system" as a technique for creating strong, memorable passwords by combining three unrelated words, possibly with numbers and capital letters. The author acknowledges the challenge of remembering complex passwords and recommends using a password manager to handle them efficiently. The article is the first in a series aimed at improving online safety, and readers are encouraged to adopt more secure password practices and subscribe for further insights.

Opinions

  • The author believes that using the same password across multiple accounts is a significant security risk.
  • Creating passwords with three random words is suggested as a method to generate passwords that are both secure and memorable.
  • Incorporating numbers and capital letters into passwords is advised to further enhance security.
  • The author recognizes the difficulty in remembering multiple complex passwords and endorses the use of password managers as a solution.
  • Readers are invited to change their passwords to more secure ones as a challenge and to subscribe to the author's updates for ongoing advice on online security.

How To Take Your Online Security To The Next Level

This story is not random

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

One of the biggest issues with passwords today is that we need so many of them, and that can lead us to be lazy and use the same one over and over again!

This is the first in a series that will explore various ways to stay safe online.

How many of your accounts use the same password?

This is not good practice.

Yes, it’s very easy. Remember one password and everything is quick and simple.

Until it isn’t!

Once a hacker gets your password, they will attempt to use that, with your username, across lots of other websites, in the hope of scoring big!

Having different passwords reduces this possibility, and I’m going to show you a process for creating a ‘hard to guess’ password for each site.

This is the random 3-word system.

Just think of 3 random words. For example, ‘railway’, ‘sneeze’, ‘window’.

Three random words that bear no relation to each other.

Now, just put them together — ‘railwaysneezewindow’.

There’s your password.

You could make it slightly more difficult to guess, by using numbers and capitals — for example, ‘Railw4ySneez3W1ndow’.

The chances of that being ‘guessed’ is quite remote.

I can hear you now; “But how do I remember these?”

It’s a good question, and the best way to manage your passwords, for all your website accounts, is to use a password manager.

However, before that, next time I’ll show you an alternative to the 3-word system.

In the meantime, your challenge is to change at least two of your accounts to use more secure passwords.

Let me know how you get on.

Thank you for reading

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Online Security
Technology
Cybersecurity
Life Lessons
Illumination
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