Your computer stores and provides access to a lot of sensitive and important data. Keeping this data and all of your accounts safe is a priority.
Creating a strong password is an essential step to protecting DES and yourself online. No one is immune to cyber risk, but you can minimize your chance of an incident. Using long and complex passwords is one of the easiest ways to defend DES and yourself from cybercrime.
Simple and Strengthening Passwords Tips
Creating a strong password is easier than you think. Follow these simple tips to shake up your password protocol:
- Use a long passphrase. You should consider using the longest password or passphrase permissible. For example, you can use a passphrase such as a news headline or even the title of the last book you read. Then add in some punctuation and capitalization. It could look something like this: “1justREADThebestBookeveR!”
- Don’t make passwords easy to guess. Do not include personal information in your password such as your name or pets’ names. This information is often easy to find on social media, making it easier for cybercriminals to hack your accounts.
- Avoid using common words in your passwords. Substitute letters with numbers and punctuation marks or symbols. For example, @ can replace the letter “A” and an exclamation point (!) can replace the letters “I” or “L.”
- Get creative. Use phonetic replacements, such as “PH” instead of “F”. Or make deliberate, but obvious misspellings, such as “enjin” instead of “engine.”
- Keep your passwords on the down-low. Don’t tell anyone your passwords and watch for attackers trying to trick you into revealing your passwords through email or calls. Every time you share or reuse a password, it chips away at your security by opening up more avenues in which it could be misused or stolen.
- Unique account, unique password. Having different passwords for various accounts helps prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to these accounts and protect you in the event of a breach. It’s important to mix things up—find easy-to remember ways to customize your standard password for different sites.
Incorporating these simple tips and strengthen your password in addition to your observation and reporting suspicious items reflects your commitment to protecting DES data and our customers.
We in ETS feel so appreciative, as we realize that protecting DES is not done successfully without your support and involvement.
If you have any questions, please contact IT 4U Support at desit4usupport@des.wa.gov or 360.407.2244