Here Is Why You Should Should Stop Using That Password!
Tags: password, passphrase, pin
Published: 2022-09-10 20:17:50

Password is one of the most critical things to look out for and also something to be careful with.

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There are different passwords many people should not be using,  and there are also password mistakes we make. Before we dive into these, we should know its definition.

## **What Is A Password?**
It is a word, phrase, or string of characters used to gain access to a site, app, network, device, or place. It is used to verify or authenticate one’s identity.
Another word for it, depending on the context, is PIN or Passphrase.

**PIN:** Personal Identification Number. PIN comes in numbers, used in debit cards, mobile phones, point of sale machines (POS), and home security.

**Passphrase:** It is a sentence combined with different words from a name or thing. Some people use each first letter of their names to form a passphrase e.g. _Daniella – “Dumb Avenge Nice Important Eleventh Lover Liver Ascend_”
Some people use this because it is easier for them to remember than a “_Y5gswP06:@97_”.
You can set your password as only letters, numbers, or symbols. For example “Laughing” or “Crying”.
It can also be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, e.g. _P@ssw0rd_, _D12ne1Y3_.

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In this digital era, many people use devices, and apps and visit sites that require passwords, but unfortunately many use weak passwords, increasing the chances of their sensitive information and properties having unauthorized access by cyber attackers.

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**Different Password Mistakes People Make – The Don’ts**
1. Using their names, family names, or loved ones' names as passwords.
2. Using their date of birth as their card PIN.
3. Using common words or common combinations e.g. “Password”, “_Password123_”, and “_Qwerty_”. It sounds funny, but some people use these as their passwords.
You can use password checkers like Kapersky, NordPass, and other reliable ones to check the strength of your password. Use only password checkers you trust.
4. Making use of simple numbers like _12345_, _54321_, _11111_, etc as their PINS.
5. Giving your passwords to people you don’t trust.
6. Using the same password for everything. Don’t do this because if a hacker cracks your password for a particular site or app, you are in trouble because he or she can have unauthorized access to other things of yours just because you use one password for everything.
7. Storing your passwords in your note apps or places that are easily accessible.

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**How To Create A Secure Password**
1. Use different passwords for different sites and apps.
2. Use longer passwords. Starting from 8 to 20 letters or more.
3. Use difficult passwords. e.g. “_Y5gswP06:@97_”, “_X4&@UqKp06*+21Cmz£Gv_”. Using passwords that combine letters, symbols and numbers will be difficult to crack through.
It will take a long time to hack passwords that look like the above. 
Note: The above password used is not my password. Please do not use the sample as your password because it has been exposed. The sample used is for educational purposes.
4. If you use passwords that are hard to remember, please write them in places that unauthorized people will not easily access. It can be in your journal or personal jotter you do not carry around.
5. Use a password manager. Some people would not want to think of how to compose hard passwords, and neither do they want to type them out every time they want to log in, so in situations like this, use a password manager.
This brings us to our next sub-topic.

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**What Is A Password Manager?**
A Password Manager is a software application that helps you generate, store and manage your password.
Below are different great 1 managers you can try out. They have free and premium versions. The free versions are good, however, if you can afford the premium, use the premium because it gives you more features that can help keep your data safer.
Some of the password managers are Keeper Security, LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane, NordPass, and other good ones. Go to their websites, read their features, pros, and cons, then decide on which one you would love.

[Cover Photo Credit](https://unsplash.com/photos/mgYAR7BzBk4)
**Cheers**✌🏾