World Password Day: Have you changed yours today?

The calendar includes dates like Indigenous Peoples' Day, Tree Day, Valentine's Day, Friendship Day, and so on. Every date has its importance and reason for existing, and May 4th is World Password Day, a very important date to discuss information security in companies and the risks that the internet presents, which are growing and causing increasing damage to companies and users online.

World Password Day arose from the encouragement of companies concerned about the security of internet users, who are increasingly unprotected and susceptible to cyberattacks, phishing , ransomware , and other crimes that exist on the internet.

Being very careful with passwords isn't something that should be done occasionally, but rather should become a habit, as they are how you and your company protect your data, access your email, online banking, and other important services that must be kept confidential.

Check out some ideas and tips about passwords, so you can start using them today:

Avoid using passwords that are too easy or predictable, such as names, birthdates, license plate numbers, phone numbers, addresses, etc.
Be careful not to type your password in the "login" field, especially on public computers.
Use a password manager, as this makes it easier to remember your passwords and change them frequently.
Use different passwords for each email service or social network you use.
Always prefer typing your password manually rather than saving it on login screens or email programs. This way, "surprises" such as unauthorized internet access from your account are less likely to occur.
If the website suggests using a second authentication factor, like the tokens we use for banking transactions, then accept it without hesitation.
Do not use names or terms that are already in the dictionary, regardless of the language. There are now lists of these names in online dictionaries.

Strategies for creating passwords

Now that we know what not to do when creating a password, we've listed some tips on what you can (and should) do to create a good password.

As a general rule, use a minimum of eight characters. The longer the password, the harder it is to guess.
Use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and at least one special character (!@#$%^*()_+=). Avoid repeating characters.
Use the initials of a phrase of appropriate length, including uppercase and lowercase letters, and at least one special character. Besides creating strong passwords, this also helps you remember them.
Use short, concatenated, and modified words, also containing numbers, linked by punctuation marks. This also makes it easier to remember the password.
Invent a word that has no meaning, but is sonorous and easy to remember, also applying some modifiers.

Unfortunately, a large portion of internet users still use passwords that are sequences of numbers or keyboard keys; these passwords are easily discovered by criminals and existing password cracking systems.

Best practices for using passwords.

It's not enough to just create a good password. You also need to know how to manage them and use them correctly so that they can fulfill their purpose.

Don't "lend" your password to anyone. And that also means not sharing your accounts with anyone. Always remember that you are the one who will be responsible for it in case of problems.
Change your password periodically. Again, use common sense regarding the frequency. "Pet passwords" usually cause you problems.
Do not reuse your previous passwords.
Use password management programs. Do you have about 10 passwords? That's okay, maybe you really need to write them down somewhere. There are certain specific programs that do this. In these programs, a "master" password allows access to the others, which are encrypted in a file.
Keep your computer free of malware (viruses, spyware, and others). Many of them can capture your passwords and data, rendering all the precautions you've taken so far useless and putting all your accounts at risk.

These practices should also be followed in corporate environments, where access to servers and important company data is available to multiple users. It is essential that your company has a password management policy.

You can also download the guide for creating and managing user accounts and secure passwords and share it with your team and friends.

If you put all the password creation tips into practice, you'll certainly be able to keep your data and user accounts secure. Take advantage of #PasswordDay2017 and "revolutionize" your passwords to improve your security and that of your company, avoiding problems with existing internet threats.