As we embark on the new year, it’s a great opportunity to take a fresh look at your personal passwords to make sure they’re strong and protect your data. While it’s recommended to update your passwords on a regular basis, here are times when you should do it immediately.
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After a security breach. Don’t waste a second. As soon as you receive a security breach alert from an affected service or website, immediately change the password associated with that account.
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When another account gets hacked. You should never use the same email and password combination for multiple accounts. If you have, assume that when one gets hacked, they’re all vulnerable. Change the passwords for all accounts with the same credential combinations, and generate unique passwords for every site. Even if an account isn’t hacked, if you realize you have the same password for more than one account, change all of them.
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When you receive notifications of attempted access. After you confirm that the notification is legitimate, log in to your account to make sure no one has stolen anything or made changes to your information. Then, you should update your password.
Important Notes:
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Never use the same passwords you use at home, at work. This puts HM in jeopardy.
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Be sure to turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) for all your accounts. This provides an extra layer of protection.
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Use strong passwords for your home Wi-Fi network, and avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities.
