Blue Monday, known as the saddest day of the year, has arrived. Falling on the third Monday of January, this day is a culmination of various factors such as gloomy weather, mounting debts, and low motivation at work.
For some, the start of the new year may not bring the anticipated freshness, and sticking to resolutions can be just as challenging as before. While it may not be possible to make drastic lifestyle changes, focusing on simple and realistic habits can make a difference. One such habit is keeping passwords safe, which can ensure that the new year doesn’t bring any reasons for sadness like losing money or personal data.
To help users manage and improve their relationship with passwords, Kaspersky experts have gathered a few simple tips:
1. Avoid using common combinations like “1234” or “admin” as passwords. While these may be convenient for users, they are equally easy for attackers to guess. To protect personal information, it’s safer to use complex and unique passwords consisting of various symbols, numbers, and both upper and lower case letters.
2. Exclude personal information from passwords. Using details like birthdates, anniversaries, or addresses makes passwords more vulnerable to attacks. Instead, opt for random combinations of words and letters that don’t form meaningful phrases. There are various methods, such as the associative method or emoji approach, to create strong passwords.
3. Use unique passwords for each account. Even if previous tips couldn’t prevent an account from being hacked, following this rule ensures that not all user information falls into the hands of hackers. Each account should have a distinct sequence of letters, numbers, and symbols.
4. Consider using the association method for passwords. This technique involves selecting words or phrases associated with personally significant events, places, or people. By combining these words or phrases, users can create unique passwords that are easy to remember but difficult to crack. It’s crucial to avoid common expressions like “Iloveyou” and make sure the phrase is meaningful only to the user.
5. Don’t hesitate to install a password manager. Coming up with unique and complex passwords for multiple accounts can be overwhelming. Password managers can generate strong passwords and securely store them, along with sensitive data like medical information and financial details, on all devices.
About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company established in 1997. With deep threat intelligence and security expertise, Kaspersky continuously develops innovative solutions and services to safeguard businesses, critical infrastructure, governments, and consumers worldwide. Their comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and specialized solutions to combat evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users benefit from Kaspersky technologies, and they assist 240,000 corporate clients in protecting what matters most to them. To learn more, visit www.kaspersky.com.