The importance of a unique password!

I thought I’d try sending a semi-regular newsletter to my favourite clients to a) say hello and hope you’re doing well! And b) to offer a wee tech tip each time, as we all benefit with a bit more knowledge.

Tech tip #1: Update your passwords

I know it’s a total pain. However it really is the number one thing that will make you safe online: using strong, unique passwords. Strong means long, mix of upper and lower case, number and symbols. Unique means totally different. It doesn’t mean: first letter of the organistion + cats name + year of cat birth + !

The thing to remember is we’re not dealing with nefarious humans here, we’re dealing with nefarious humans with access to nearly-quantum computing. And they’ll crack your password pattern like a nut.

We all have way too many passwords to be able to remember them. So don’t. Write them down, use an e-password manager, put them in an excel spreadsheet – whatever works for you. There is no “right” way. Apart from unique, strong passwords. That is the right way. :) just do 3 a day – that is totally achievable!

Steps for 3 a day change:

1. Login to [business name] account

2. Navigate to either profile/settings/security (it will be slightly different each time) and find the update password section

3. Choose a strong password. Need inspiration? Lastpass has a good password generator, but there are other good ones out there

4. Repeat two times with different accounts

5. Celebrate changing three passwords with some sort of treat :)

Bonus advice

Start with your banking, MyGov, and superannuation accounts. 

Hope you’re all keeping well in the glorious kaleidoscope of Canberra Autumn.

Cheers

Ruth