When someone wants to access your Facebook account, Gmail, or any other website, he’ll guess your username and password. And if you don’t have secure logging details, there is no way to avoid hacks.
Now, if you want to take your online security and privacy to the highest levels, then learn how to protect yourself online. You can do that when you keep your passwords safe, well-protected, and nearly impossible to guess or even type with ID and other details.
In this password protection article, I’m going to show you how to keep login attempts away and secure all your online accounts. But remember, it all starts from a good understanding of the importance of strong passwords. And also, you need to manage all the login information the right way.
9 ways to protect login details and passwords online
1. Use a good password manager
A password manager is an online-based or also offline tool that lets you generate very long and complex passwords and login credentials with the URL. So, you can fill in the login details with one click of the button. But the best part is that you only need to remember one password for your account with the password manager and completely forget to add another one.
In other words, you can save dozens, hundreds, or thousands of very strong and complex passwords that are impossible to guess. And all of them will be saved and fully encrypted in the cloud with multiple security systems.
Instead of creating weak passwords, users can get lengthy usernames and passwords, and the system saves them automatically. So, when there is a login page, they will be added with a click, and that’s great.
LastPass is one of the best password managers for your Mac and also for your iPhone. It helps you to fight identity theft and block cybersecurity threats better. It’s easy to use and lets you generate up to 99 characters in length passwords which is more than enough for online security.
The tool comes with a native app for Mac. And it has an extension for Safari, Google Chrome, and even Android. So, you get a password generator and manager where you go online.
With Lastpass, users can enable two-factor authentication. And that’s super secure when using tools like Google authenticator, Microsoft authenticator, Toopher, and Duo Security. On the other hand, if you use the premium version, you get more options to secure the master login page with YubiKey, Fingerprint and Smart Card, or Salesforce Authenticator for enterprise-level subscribers.
2. Stop using the same password everywhere
I understand that some people have difficulties remembering things, and that’s normal. But also, think about the risks you make by using the same password again and again on every website or social media network.
If you have the same password on Facebook or Twitter, and someone got it one day, he can get access to your email account without even noticing that. Then, things will go on with your bank account and more with sensitive data.
That’s why I recommend using trusted password encryption and management tools. It should protect your credential on all your accounts on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, PayPal, Gmail, and others.
3. Never use common passwords
Don’t you think that using your date of birth as a password for your Facebook account is a bad idea? Unfortunately, thousands of people still use that old method. That’s simply because they think they’ll forget their login details. However, the risk of being hacked is at its highest level when you choose a weak password.
That’s why you should never make a password the same as a phone number, full name, nickname, or birth date. It’s not that hard to guess if someone has the time to look into your details.
Now, if you have already used one of these weak passwords, then, change them right now. You’ll save lots of things later, including your online accounts, data, and private information.
4. Always make it complex and hard to guess
As I said above, using a password that’s easy to remember with birth dates or numbers is not a smart way to keep yourself safe online. That’s because many robots can start generating your password automatically.
Also, they keep trying until they find the right login combination. But if you want to block all that and have very strong passwords, generate one with 20 characters in length at least. Then, add numbers, capital, and lowercase letters, then, special characters if needed.
By doing that, no one will be able to guess any of your login passwords even if he tries for years. However, if you forget your own password, it will be hard to log in again. You’ll need to contact the website and tell them that you’ve lost the username or password.
That’s why using a tool that saves all your complex passwords is the best way to stop the hack. But make sure you remember the main passwords and make them complex but save them elsewhere on paper. So, you never lose it for any reason.
Because problems can occur on any website or company, every year, there are password hacks. And for your security, security tools like Blur and LastPass find the problem if you have a login detail with a domain that has been attacked by data breaches. Then, they suggest changing the passwords automatically from your account. It’s the safest way to generate passwords and keep them safe online.
5. You don’t have to remember all your passwords, one is enough
Remembering hundreds of passwords altogether with usernames and URLs for login is a pain, especially if you work online. That’s not secure and safe as there are different options for usernames etc…But using a master password with online security software that saves all the data security is better and highly recommended.
Take the example of a person who wants to keep his email account with Google or Facebook safe. By having one password for the tool, he can fill in the exact unique password for every website he uses.
The benefits are many, and of course, users create a unique password that’s well-secured for each website, no duplicate login details, and no more problems when they forget a password and are locked out.
6. Use two-factor authentication
Using two-step login tools like Google Authenticator is no longer an option these days. Millions of websites have serious security issues. And if you neglect that, all your login details won’t be as safe as you expect.
Even with a password management program, I recommend adding your mobile number for a login or authenticator tool that you can install on your devices that use Android or iOS.
Google authenticator is a very complex algorithm that generates 6 digits every 60 seconds and guarantees them automatically randomly. So, it’s impossible to know the exact code at any given time. And thus, installing the tool on your smartphone will be a smart move to secure your login pages and keep them secret.
When you add Google authenticator, you’ll need to scan the QR code using the smartphone. Next, you get easy access to the URL and add the site to the tool. However, you can configure that manually. The most important step here is to save the backup codes that Google generates for you. Print them, and save the file in a secure place online and offline also.
That way, even if you lose your phone, you still have the backup codes to use and log in without any problem. In general, there are 10 codes to save, and each time you use one, it will be removed from the list. It’s a one-time login code that’s not used twice. Also, think about using a Good VPN that secures the connection when you log in or use the website.
7. Save credentials offline
The best way to save passwords offline is by printing them and organizing them in a way that you are the only person who can remember how to use each one. I mean, write or print the passwords only and use hints to link them to websites or usernames, don’t make them easy to read.
Let’s say, for example, you need to store your Facebook login details safely offline. So, when you print the password, don’t add “Facebook” to it, but add another word or hint you can understand and see it’s linked to that social network.
Or, if you want to avoid all these problems when you forget login details, use a secure password manager, and only save one login password. That’s it, no more issues and login problems.
8. Change passwords every 6 months
I don’t want to say update all your passwords every 3 months. But if you do that twice a year, your accounts will be safer. No matter if users add software or not, if someone gets your password today, he can sell them later. And you can block access to your sensitive information and accounts only by updating them at least once a year.
Do that for your master login password also, but keep track of that as if you forget it, it will be a problem.
- Read also: How to find someone you met once
The importance of your password security should be a priority nowadays. Just imagine if a stranger gets access to your social media profiles and downloads all your messenger chat data, photos, videos, and private information.
That will be bad for all, and dealing with cybersecurity and bullying is not easy. Besides, neglecting the fact that sensitive data can cause big problems will be catastrophic for companies and also for individuals. That’s why securing and changing them is one of the ways to protect yourself against cybersecurity threats and hacks.
9. Tips for Email accounts and Facebook
Because getting your Gmail or Yahoo account hacked is the worst scenario, l recommend adding an extra layer of security to these accounts. Letting them with the same passwords may reveal everything related to other sites.
Also, think about someone who accesses your Facebook conversations and photos. It won’t be a comfortable situation. That’s why you need to keep all the data secrets and well protected.
For Gmail, there is a two-step authentication that you can enable from your account. Follow the Google guide, and apply the steps. Verify that you read the right tutorial as there are differences between computers, Android, and iPhone or iPad verifications.
Next, monitor your Gmail logins periodically and see if there are any sessions that are kept active. So, you can log out of everything and secure access. For apps with permissions to your Google account, It’s better to remove them, as many won’t be updated often and may cause serious security problems.
For Facebook also, there is a two-step authentication that works well. Instead of using lots of tools, use the same Google authenticator app on your devices. So, every time you log into Facebook, you’ll be asked for the code that will be sent to your phone number. That’s why it will be hard for someone to hack your Facebook count, as they don’t have your number.
Other websites like Twitter, Linkedin, Yahoo, Outlook, etc have similar functionalities. Make sure you secure all of your online accounts and login details with double logins. It’s safer and better, and you always get the latest security tools on your devices. However, ensure that all your backup codes are saved on multiple copies online and also offline without adding all the details.
In other words, try not to tell them that this password is for that website, and just give yourself hints to remember them.
- Read next: How to find lost family members online
Conclusion
To summarize, here is what you can do to keep your passwords secure online and also offline. So, no one can access your accounts and see your details or have your profiles.
Start by installing a trusted tool that generates complex passwords, encrypts, and saves them automatically in the cloud. Then, don’t generate your password manually. Let the software do that, and set the length to something more than 20 characters.
Next, keep your main login details safe, and add two-step authentication to it and also all the other sites you use regularly, especially social accounts and banks. Finally, relax and don’t remember another password again.
