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This October we are focusing on risky behaviors and will provide some tips on how to identify them and things you can do.We start the month of October with Phishing how to recognize it and what to do.
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Passwords - Are they strong?
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Continuing with risky behaviors. Passwords are still important to be strong even with a second-factor authentication, which adds an additional layer of security to your login process. Why is it still important? Because if your password is in the hands of bad guys it puts them one step closer to gaining access. The bad guys will try additional tricks to get you to approve their login attempts even with your second factor.
Please watch a funny video about Passwords (Jimmy Kimmel Live Jan 2015). What do you think, is still true today? (spoiler alert the answer is yes)
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Creating a strong password is an essential step to protecting yourself online and at Suffolk. Using long and complex passwords is one of the easiest ways to defend yourself from cybercrime. Creating a strong password is easier than you think. Follow these simple tips to shake up your password protocol:
(The second factor, sometimes called multifactor or two factor, is where you have a password along with a second factor like your phone, text, or mobile app.)
SIMPLE TIPS to a better Password
Don’t make passwords easy to guess. Do not include personal information in your passwords such as your name or pets’ names. This information is often easy to find on social media, making it easier for cybercriminals to hack your accounts.
Use a long passphrase. Consider using the longest password or passphrase permissible. For example, you can use a passphrase such as a part of the sentence, four random words, or even the title of the last book you read. Then add in some punctuation and capitalization.
Avoid using common words in your password. Substitute letters with numbers and punctuation marks or symbols. For example, @ can replace the letter “A” and an exclamation point (!) can replace the letters “I” or “L.”
Get creative. Use phonetic replacements, such as “PH” instead of “F”. Or make deliberate, but obvious misspellings, such as “enjin” instead of “engine.”
Keep your passwords on the down low. Don’t tell anyone your passwords and watch for attackers trying to trick you into revealing your passwords through email or calls. Every time you share or reuse a password, it chips away at your security by opening up more avenues in which it could be misused or stolen.
Unique account, unique password. Having different passwords for various accounts helps prevent cybercriminals from gaining access to these accounts and protects you in the event of a breach. It’s important to mix things up—find easy-to-remember ways to customize your standard password for different sites.
Utilize a password manager to remember all your long passwords. The most secure way to store all of your unique passwords is by using a password manager. With just one master password, a computer can generate and retrieve passwords for every account that you have – protecting your online information, including credit card numbers and their three-digit Card Verification Value (CVV) codes, answers to security questions, and more.
For more information on Passwords please visit https://wikis.suffolk.edu/display/ITSEC/Strong+Password
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Phishing - It Wasn't Me?
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