Monday, May 9th 2016, 8:51 am
A recent massive data breach has experts warning you to change your password. While you're changing that password, there are some mistakes the experts say you should avoid.
We can't say it enough. Passwords are often the only thing standing between a hacker and your personal information. So here's what people usually get wrong. You can learn from their mistakes.
First mistake: Creating a password that's too short. Tech Experts say eight characters should be the absolute minimum and 10 to 12 characters is recommended, especially when it comes to your banking account.
Another mistake: Keeping your password simple. Experts say passwords like "1-2-3-4-5" or "A-B-C-D-E" are a no-no. Even a common phrase like "MayTheForceBeWithYou," Experts say hackers look for those kinds of passwords right off the bat.
Lastly, using the same password for every account so you only have to remember one. Think about it. If hackers get your password for one account, they can access all your accounts.
Now you might be told to change your password every six months. But the FTC says you shouldn't. You should only change your password if you think it's been involved in a data breach.
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