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Keep your passwords in a secure place, and out of plain view. Don't share your passwords on the Internet, over email, or on the phone. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) should never ask for your password.
In addition, without your knowledge, hackers
may try to figure out your passwords to gain access to your computer.
You can make it tougher for them by:
- Using passwords that have at least eight characters and include
numerals and symbols.
- Avoiding common words: some hackers use programs that can try
every word in the dictionary.
- Not using your personal information, your login name, or adjacent
keys on the keyboard as passwords.
- Changing your passwords regularly (at minimum, every 90 days).
- Using a different password for each online account you access
(or at least a variety of passwords with difficulty based on the
value of the information contained in each.
One way to create a strong password is to think of a memorable
phrase and use the first letter of each word as your password, converting
some letters into numbers that resemble letters. For example, "How
much wood could a woodchuck chuck" would become HmWc@wC.
To further increase the security of your online identity and to help protect you from account hi-jacking, take advantage of stronger authentication tools wherever available. This may take the form of two-factor authentication – the combination of a password or PIN number (something you know) with a token, smart card, or even a biometric device (something you have). Stronger authentication can also come from a behind-the-scenes identity-verification process, which uses various data to establish whether or not a user is genuine. Ask your bank, your regular online retailers, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if they offer stronger authentication tools for more secure transactions.
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