Businesses have a priority to safeguard their data. They advise employees to not share information and keep up to date with the latest security software. However, not every guideline works as effectively today as they did in the past. With hackers increasing their sophistication, safety measures need to be upgraded. The same can be said with security advice. A couple of these tips will be discussed as well as more updated measures you can use to safeguard your data.
When you configure passwords, think about the many times hackers have breached password-protected accounts. The more difficult your password is, the harder it is for thieves and software to guess them. Each additional character you add to your password makes it almost triple times more difficult for password-cracking tools to find the right combination. Even automated software may require a very long length of time to crack your password.
A short password is acceptable as long as the characters have good variety. These passwords generally contain a random string of alphanumeric numbers and symbols. They will be effective for a while, but much more so against humans than bots. Mixing up your passwords will definitely confound and throw off any software or hacker on your trail.
Sometimes, you may hear from experts to have your employees change passwords every few months. Research from the University of North Carolina has shown that users changing passwords regularly tend to use certain patterns and similar variations of previous key terms. This makes it easy for hackers to save their history and guess changed passwords. The old data they have access to reveals these patterns and potentially leaves the victims’ other accounts vulnerable to theft.
If you change passwords regularly, avoid following the same patterns. Add variety and use different patterns, character lengths, and symbols. This will keep software or hackers guessing for a longer time. It is also a good idea to use different passwords for your other accounts. One breach can leave more than one account vulnerable.
While the previous points are must-dos in computer security, there are additional methods that can be added to your company’s defense plan against data hijackers. One of them is two-factor authentication, which provides an extra line of defense to all accounts. This also limits the chances of passwords being shared with people who are unauthorized to have access to it. This takes a lot of effort and steps, but it is nothing compared to the potential loss of sensitive data and money from online theft. Close up all the tiny cracks in your defense to prevent larger, more stressful problems in the future.
With the recommended security practices, your business can safely operate while keeping important data secure. However, the risks are always there so it is better to be active and staying updated with the latest security tips. The hackers are always evolving, so it never hurts to stay one step ahead of them. Your business is precious, and its growth should not be derailed by the loss of online data.
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