×
On Air Now
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM

BBB Offers Advice On World Password Day

By Tom Stanton May 4, 2023 | 2:50 PM

May 4th is World Password Day and the Better Business Bureau is reminding people about the importance of strong passwords.  Josh Planos is with the BBB in Lincoln and says much of our financial, social and recreational lives depends on online transactions and that means passwords galore.

He says a few simple keystrokes are all that stand between your most personal information and the untold number of crooks who work to gain entrance into your many accounts.   “Passwords connect us to our bank accounts, mortgages and everything in between.”

Planos says the most important thing you can do is strengthen your passwords.  He has this advice:

  • Instead of “passwords,” think in terms of “passphrases.” Make them long, strong, and complex. They should be at least 12 characters long. Avoid cliches such as “AnAppleaDay.” Go instead for a phrase with personal meaning to you, such as, “PlanetSpringsteenIsForMe.” Make it less hackable by substituting characters: “Pl@netSpring$teenIs4Me!”
  • Don’t use pets’ names, relatives, maiden names, hometowns, birthdays, other significant dates, or anything that could be found out about you by an internet snoop.
  • Never use easily guessed number sequences like “0000000” or “1234567.”
  • Dictionary words are easy for hackers to figure out.
  • Don’t make only slight changes in passwords across different accounts, such as adding a number to the end of a previously used password.

Cybersecurity experts recommend you change passwords every three months and that you use a password management program. For answers to other questions you may have about your online passwords, check with BBB at (800) 856-2417 or visit our website at BBB.org.