What are the ways to verify if there have been any security breaches and if your passwords have been compromised?
Picture this situation: You’re lounging on your sofa, absentmindedly browsing your preferred social media platform, when you suddenly get a distressing email from an unfamiliar sender asserting that they have obtained all your personal details. At first, you brush it off as a phishing fraud – but then, uncertainty starts to creep in.
What are the ways to verify if your password has been exposed or breached?
Cybersecurity specialist Troy Hunt has developed the “Have I Been Pwned” website which allows you to examine if your username, email address, or password has been exposed in a public data breach. This can assist you in detecting if your personal information is vulnerable and help you take corrective measures, like modifying your password, to safeguard your account.
It is essential to keep in mind that using the same password for important accounts is not advisable since a breach on one website can give hackers access to other accounts. It is now time to alter your password.
What is the method to create a strong password?
There are some fundamental principles to crafting a robust password that can make it challenging for hackers to breach. Adhering to these guidelines could assist you in narrowing down what you should and should not incorporate in your password.
Ensure that your password comprises at least 12 characters.
The longer and more complex the password, the harder it is for a hacker to crack it. While certain websites may have specific password length requirements, it is generally recommended to have a password with at least 12-14 characters or more for added security.
Incorporate numerals, symbols, uppercase, and lowercase letters in your password.
Once again, having greater diversity in your password is preferable. Make sure everything is as random as possible to keep hackers at bay. For instance, a password like ‘d%A$r(T496’ would be considerably more challenging to breach than ‘dart496.’
