How Often Should You Change Your Password? What Experts Say

VeePN Can Help You to Secure Your Passwords

Now, before we get more into details, we should discuss your general online safety. Passwords are not enough. You may have the best, most regularly changed passwords but when you use them in unsecured networks then you are still at risk. When accessing online services using the unsecured network, especially in a public Wi-Fi, sensitive information like your bank accounts and bank account details may be revealed.

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How regularly should you change your password?

The quick answer: it is a matter of circumstance. Nevertheless, it is crucial to change your password regularly and update it to preserve its security and avoid unauthorized access to your accounts. One should understand when to change the passwords- they do not need to be changed frequently unless there is a certain risk like possible breach or shared access.

Let us take it step by step according to the recommendations of cybersecurity experts and organizations.

When You Believe There is a Breach or Suspicious Activity

In case of any suspicion of suspicious activity such as unauthorized logins, an email notification about changing the password which you do not make, or unexpected messages, change your password and update your account as soon as possible to stop it. Also, it is possible to turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) in case it is not turned on already.

Post-Known Data Breach

Even though your password has not been misused yet, you are only waiting after it is revealed. In case your account is compromised, you must act on it to protect it such as by changing password and activating other security options. In case a service you have accounts on reports a breach, assume that your credentials were stolen.

In Case You Have Recycled Passwords Online

Reuse of passwords is the dream of hackers. In case you have shared your passwords of various accounts with other people or you have used the passwords on a shared computer, you are advised to change your passwords to secure your accounts. In case of the breach of one of the sites, attackers attempt the same login on other services. It is high time you changed all the reused passwords and start using unique ones when this is your habit.

In case You Have Weak or Easy to Guess Passwords

Are you still using 123456 or the name of your pet? Changing the original password by only adding a number or a symbol is not sufficient in enhancing security. Don not wait until the trouble arrives, change that password.

Periodic Change on High-Risk Accounts

When it comes to critical accounts (such as email, bank, or work portals), including accounts that are important, such as financial institutions, it is a wise idea to change the password 3 to 6 times a year even when there is no sign of an issue. This minimises the possibility of long term compromising. Also, check some of the accounts you have not been using in a long time and think of closing down or updating them to have better security.

Password Health Check: Evaluation of the Strength of Your Credentials

The first step toward maintaining your online accounts safe is to know where you stand in regards to your passwords. One of the most proactive methods of determining the health of all your passwords is a password health check, which allows you to identify areas of weaknesses before a hacker does. You may also use antivirus software in the process to find out malware that may steal your credentials.

Begin by checking your passwords on the accounts. Do you have a strong password with a combination of upper and lower cases, numbers and special characters? You should have a different password on each account, as the possibility of getting into trouble reduces significantly in case one account gets hacked. Or do you still have some of your accounts using weak passwords or similar passwords in different sites? A weak or re-used password may jeopardize all your other accounts in case one of them is attacked.

The valuable tool to do this is a password manager. Password managers have in-built password health feature which checks your stored passwords and raises new or used passwords and advises accordingly. Password managers assist you to create and save secure passwords, and your master password is the key to unlock to your password vault, thus, it should be strong and secured. They will also notify you whether some of your credentials including your username have been leaked in some data breach, so you can change your passwords on the spot and make sure that your accounts are safe. Keeping your username and your password safe is the key to avoiding unauthorized access.

Doing a password health check regularly will keep your password security at a high level and in good standings. This is possible by locating and fixing the weak spots so that you can have more control over the access to your accounts and ensure that your sensitive data are not exposed to cyberattacks. Always close the accounts in shared devices and keep track of where you log in. Secure logging habits will ensure that your accounts are not compromised by unauthorized users.

Why Causing Frequent Changes in Password Is Not Enough

In contrast to the earlier recommendations, passwords should not be changed so frequently without any reason because it will turn against them. To circumvent this, users can use weaker passwords or they can write them down compromising security. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States now advises against periodic changes imposed by force, unless there is a reason to believe that a compromise has occurred.

It should concentrate on the quality of the password and monitoring breaches rather than schedules.

Preventing the Most Common Password Errors

To have your online accounts safe, you need to avoid the common password errors. Using the same password in several accounts is one of the most significant traps. When a hacker hacks into one account, it would not take him long before hacking into your other accounts with the same password. That is why it is important to employ password manager, which will assist you in creating and storing distinct passwords to every account of the kind that you possess.

The other common error is the use of weak passwords which are easy ones such as password123, the name of your pet or the date you were born. These are easy to guess by hackers and hence endangering your security. Rather, you should make use of a password generator to derive complex passwords using combinations of upper and lower cases, number, and special characters.

You should also not write your passwords on sticky notes or save them in an area that does not have security since this would be an easy way to be spotted and used by someone. Through a password manager and password best practices, all your passwords will remain secure and you will be less likely to have your accounts compromised. And you must remember that safe password practice is the best measure against hackers.

Password Security Tools: What Can You Use To Be Safe?

To remain safe on the Web, you cannot just have a powerful password, but you need to have the necessary password security tools that will keep all your accounts safe. One of the most reliable tools is a password manager. Password managers keep all your passwords in a vault, they create unique passwords to every account and they are encrypted so your passwords remain secure. Most password managers also include additional features such as dark web monitoring that will tell you when your data has been stolen in a data breach and password health checks that will help you know you have strong or duplicated passwords.

Another effective security is two-factor authentication (2FA). Having 2FA in place, you will have to enter a second method of confirmation, e.g., a code that will be sent to your phone or a fingerprint scan until you will be able to access your accounts. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides additional layers of security since it involves several forms of verification.

You can also reinforce your security by regularly changing your passwords and generate passwords using a password generator to use complex passwords. Using these tools together, that is, password managers, 2FA, MFA, and frequent password changing, you will be able to considerably decrease the chance of hackers getting access to your accounts and protect your sensitive information.

Securing Sensitive Information other than Passwords

Although unique and powerful passwords are the foundations of security online, it is not the only way to protect your confidential data. When you are connected to a public network e.g. public Wi-Fi, your data might be particularly susceptible to hackers. In order to ensure that your information is safe, think about employing a virtual private network (VPN) that will encrypt your internet traffic and protect your accounts against unauthorized access.

Watch out for phishing attacks-frauds that are intended to fool you into giving up your email password, credit card numbers, or other personal information. Whenever you receive an email or visit websites, ensure that it is legit before inputting your credentials. Properly check your accounts to see any unusual activity and change your passwords as soon as you detect some suspicious activities or whenever there is a breach.

Another important measure you should take in order to prevent malware and other cyber threats is to maintain your devices and software as up to date as possible. Add another layer of protection by using well known antivirus software or by enabling firewalls. And remember to make your passwords strong and unique to all accounts and particularly those where there is a high risk such as bank accounts and to change your passwords frequently. With such measures, you will be able to protect your sensitive information against cybercriminals.

Password Security Tips

✅Make complex passwords and keep them entered using a password manager such as Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass.

✅Activate 2FA where it is available.

✅See whether your email or passwords have been leaked by checking at haveibeenpwned.com.

It is recommended not to share passwords or store them in browsers, particularly on shared devices. When you are using shared or public devices, log out of your accounts always.

Always be one step ahead of cyber attacks

The passwords are your guards. Take them as seriously as you should, but do not depend upon them by themselves. You should conduct regular audits, use adequate tools, and install increased protection, such as VeePN. Get VeePN today and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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