Proper management of your account passwords/passphrases is key to the security of your information and your online security. As such, it is important to learn how to keep your information secure with a strong passphrase. Show
Why "passphrase" instead of password? A passphrase is more secure than a password because it contains more than a single dictionary word. How do I choose a strong
password? For starters, create a passphrase instead of a password by picking an easy-to-remember sentence. For example, Where Is My C0ffee?. This contains uppercase letters, lowercase letters, a number, a substitution, spaces and unique characters! To make your passphrase even stronger, try using the starting letters of each word in the phrase, and alternate between uppercase and lowercase. Or try using words from multiple languages. Get creative with it! What is the reason for having multiple unique passphrasses? If your passphrase is the same for two separate accounts, a hacker only needs to compromise one in order to gain access to both. Since you will often use the same email address to log into multiple services, hackers will try your email and password combination on all of the most commonly used services (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Amazon). Accounts such as your UVic or bank accounts, contains sensitive information (grades, financial information, SIN, tax information, etc.). As such, it is that much more important that the passphrases for these accounts be unique from others, such as your social media accounts. Why does passphrase length matter? The longer the passphrase, the harder it is to crack!
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Life is full of passwords. We use them every day to shop online and to access email, social media and University systems. Passwords prove who you are and help stop identity theft, fraud and confidential information falling into the wrong hands. Using strong passwords, or passphrases, is an essential part of protecting your online accounts. A strong password is one that is unique, long and hard to guess. Remembering different strong passwords for each online services can be difficult. That's why we recommend using a password manager to create and manage your passwords. All you have to do is remember the password to your password vault. Choose a password manager that supports 2-factor authentication for added security. Hunt the Password from Get Safe Online on Vimeo. Top Tips for Strong PasswordsDo:
Don't:
Use 3 Random Words to Create Strong PasswordsA simple way to create a strong password is to use 3 random dictionary words.
Use a Strong, Unique Password for your Email AccountNever use the same combination of email address and password for your email account as you do for other services. Other websites may be compromised by a data breach, making it fast and easy for your email to be hacked too. Go to Have I Been Pwned? to find out if an online account has been compromised in a data breach. If it has, any other accounts that use the same password could be be at risk. Your email is particularly important because if
it's hacked:
Password ManagersWe all have dozens, if not hundreds, of online accounts. With even the largest websites falling victim to data breaches, it is essential to have a unique, strong password for every website. Using a password manager is the only realistic way of doing this. The more popular password managers:
By using a password manager you only ever need to remember a single master password. With all your passwords stored in the same location, you should add 2-factor authentication for an added layer of security. There are lots of password managers available, including many that are free or have free versions, such as LastPass. Find out more about password managers Two-Factor AuthenticationUse two-factor authentication (2FA) on your most important online accounts, like email and banking. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by adding a second way to confirm your identity. This could be in the form of a code sent via a text message to a nominated phone or a code generated by a smartphone app. What is Two-Factor Authentication? from Martin Thoburn on Vimeo. Find Out MoreYou can change your password in Pegasus. Go to the DS Password help page for more information. To reset your password you'll need to have the following infromation to hand:
Go to the DS Password help page for more information. If you think your DS password may be known by a 3rd party you should:
Many of the biggest online services will allow you to set-up 2FA. Click on the links below for more information:
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Why is it important to use a strong unique passphrase for each of your social networking accounts quizlet?Why is it important to use a strong, unique passphrase for each of your social networking accounts? If a cyber attacker compromises the password to one of your accounts, your other accounts will still be secure.
Why it is important to have a strong password?Passwords provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer and personal information. The stronger your password, the more protected your computer will be from hackers and malicious software. You should maintain strong passwords for all accounts on your computer.
Why is it important to use different passwords for different online sites?Using a unique password for each account means that even in the event of a data breach in one of the services you use, your other accounts are not at risk.
What is a passphrase in cyber security?What is a passphrase? A passphrase is an easier-to-remember password that is longer and therefore stronger. Password length most directly influences password strength. So a longer passphrase made of simpler components is more effective than a shorter, super complex password that is difficult to remember.
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