The Latest Password Advice

What was once considered best practices with password security and keeping criminals out of your accounts have changed. That is why you need to know the latest password advice.

Instead of a six- or eight-character guideline, top experts in cybersecurity are suggesting using a 12+ character creative paraphrase. Think of a unique phrase or combination of words special to you, which will be easy for you to remember, like a favorite song. This paraphrase will be much longer and less likely a hacker to guess. Make sure your paraphrase consists of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. One plus to using this much longer security tool is that you typically will not have to change it as frequently as a regular password.

Another new feature recommended is using a passkey if available. A passkey is a digital credential such as face scan, fingerprint, or PIN. Multi-factor authentication should be used with all online accounts like email, financial, and shopping. This requires two separate verification steps to log into an account, like a text code, phone call, or through an app.

Some advice has not changed. It is still crucial to create a different paraphrase for each account, never share login credentials with others, and make sure to stay up to date with the latest best practices. You can always reach out to us at the Credit Union with any questions or concerns. We make it our top priority to stay abreast of trends related to data security, privacy, and fraud.