Security part 3

Passwords

Just because you keep your phone or tablet safe, it does not mean that your data is safe.  The majority of apps connect you to the internet and so anyone with access to the internet who knows your email address might try and hack into your account(s).  Starting with one, it might lead to finding out more about you.  So, if your facebook information is private, someone hacking in would see that information, might find out information about your family etc.  Eventually this could lead to bank information for example.  Another way of trying to get the information is simply by brute force.  So how secure is your password:

https://howsecureismypassword.net/

Don’t use your existing password, but use one with a similar pattern/sequence/set of characters and length.  This will give you an indication of what you need to do!  Here’s a starting point:

• Have 12 Characters, Minimum: You need to choose a password that’s long enough. There’s no minimum password length everyone agrees on, but you should generally go for passwords that are a minimum of 12 to 14 characters in length. A longer password would be even better.
• Include Numbers, Symbols, Capital Letters, and Lower-Case Letters: Use a mix of different types of characters to make the password harder to crack.
• Don’t use a Dictionary Word or Combination of Dictionary Words: Stay away from obvious dictionary words and combinations of dictionary words. Any word on its own is bad. Any combination of a few words, especially if they’re obvious, is also bad. For example, “house” is a terrible password. “Red house” is also very bad.
• Doesn’t Rely on Obvious Substitutions: Don’t use common substitutions, either — for example, “H0use” isn’t strong just because you’ve replaced an o with a 0.

It can be a good idea to create your password based on a personal memory, preferably a long time ago (before the internet age).

Although you should not write passwords down, if you feel that your memory is failing you (as can happen with age) make sure to relinquish them to someone you trust.  It might for example be relevant in the future to log your passwords with a solicitor as an annex to a power of attorney document.