It seems like nowadays every website has you make up a password, but here are some tips to create unique and complicated passwords fit to take on cyber criminals.
- Longer passwords are best: Now many websites require passwords be 8-16, but the longer your password is, the harder it is to crack. Using a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is integral to fortifying your accounts and protecting sensitive information.
- Don’t use personal identifying information: Information such as your name, address, or phone number can be found easily on the web making it easier for a malicious actor to guess your password without having to hack into anything. Your passwords shouldn’t be easy to guess and ideally not even word, just random symbols.
- Don’t repeat passwords: Websites encounter security breaches all the time, and often when one password for a user is exposed, hackers can often guess the passwords to all your other accounts.
- Use a password manager: People tend to reuse their passwords because its easier to remember however, having a password manager such as LastPass means you can save hundreds of passwords while only needing to know one password the vault itself. LastPass will autofill your saved passwords into their login pages and even comes up with and stores unique passwords for you.
- Multifactor Authentication is key: When a you login into my.fordham.edu with CAS, you sign in on the computer and approve your login on a separate app on your phone; this adds another layer of protection to ensure all sign ins are actually you.
If you believe that one of your passwords has been compromised, reset it immediately using the above guidelines and contact IT Customer Care (718) 817-3999 or via email HelpIT@fordham.edu.