Police provide helpful reminders regarding online password safety

Creating strong passwords should be the number one priority in keeping your online world safe. Having weak passwords could result in stolen identities, loss of data or money, and even the loss of a job and/or reputation, according to a release from Kingston Police, dated Tuesday, Jan, 19, 2021.

You’ve likely heard recommendations for creating secure passwords before. Experts suggest using long, complex, and random combinations of words, letters, numbers and special characters, Kingston Police said in the release.

Follow the tips below to improve your password safety practices:

• Improve the strength of your passwords. Strong passwords are usually made up of at least eight characters. They should contain numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as special characters.
• Use passphrases. Recently, security standards strongly recommend using a passphrase rather than a single word. A good passphrase is one that is unique to you so that you can remember it, but is also secret enough that no one else can guess it.
• Never use personal or obvious information in your passwords. For example, never include your name, email address, phone number, birth date, or any other information connected to you.
• Never use the same password for multiple accounts. If cybercriminals steal your password from one account and you’re using that password on other accounts, then you’ve given them the key to all of the accounts where you’ve used the same password.
• Use a password manager. If you work for an organization and they allow it, use a password manager to create, store, and sync complex passwords across multiple devices. Password managers only require you to remember one master password. Ask your internal IT (or other applicable) team to see if this is something you can do. Most importantly, if there is one available, always follow your organization’s password policy. Password policies are created to keep you and your organization safe.

Kingston Police are asking you to protect yourself, your family and your organization against cybercrime by improving your password safety today.