We have noticed an increase in hacked social media accounts recently such as Instagram and Facebook accounts. Taking a few simple steps such as setting a secure password, and enabling two factor authentication can greatly reduce your chances of having your accounts compromised. We cover this in more detail here;
A good password will protect our devices or our online accounts from the malicious actions of a cybercriminal. They are literally, the keys to the kingdom.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
3 RANDOM WORDS: You could try to use 3 random words, separated by a symbol or a digit. The science says this acts as a passphrase so it's easier to remember e.g. monkey*Girdle*biscuit. Use 3 random words on any account you deem critical, such as your email account or your laptop. This solution works well providing you can remember multiple passwords.
USE YOUR BROWSER: Alternatively, you can use your browser to store your passwords. The best thing about this is that you don't have to remember them and your browser will autocomplete login pages. Awesome! Since the browser is doing all the hard work, you can also create huge, unique passwords for every single account. They can be a combination of symbols and digits as well as upper and lower case letters.
USE A CREDENTIAL MANAGER: Of course, the problem with the solution above is that you are dependent on the security of your browser and in particular, how it stores the passwords. A better solution, therefore, is to buy a password manager (or credential manager as it is commonly called) from your app store. This will
Automatically generate complex passwords for you
Auto-complete login forms for you
Store passwords in an encrypted vault for additional protection
Be available on multiple devices such as your phone, laptop, desktop or digital pad.
AND FINALLY - USE 2 FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (2FA): Most websites allow you to set up 2 factor authentication. For example, as well as requiring a password to log in, you will need a pin sent to your phone. We strongly urge you to use this security feature for all your critical accounts. That way, even if your password is compromised by a cybercriminal, your account is still safe. To read more about how to set up 2FA see NCSC guidance here.