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Your passwords protect your information online. Why would they need protecting themselves? 

Only because your passwords are the keys to your accounts and personal information! They’re a hot commodity for anyone looking to steal your identity; you need to take every precaution to make sure they can’t. 

Location, location, location!

Storage matters. Keeping your passwords on your phone or in a random file on your computer is like putting your house key under the doormat; it’s the first place a hacker will look. Try these alternatives:

1. Use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Proton Pass. These will encrypt your data and require you to remember a single master password only. 
2. Use offline storage like a written notebook stored securely in your home. 
3. Encrypted digital storage files are the bare minimum for password security. 

Creation is key!

In addition to safety measures like changing your passwords often and not giving them to anyone, create an uncrackable password from the get-go. Select a base password, then make it more complicated by adding numbers and symbols. This “base password” should be something that is meaningful to you, but would mean nothing to identity thieves after your information. 

For example, if you love the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, you could create a password using the title and the author’s name: atotccd. Okay, that’s something. Now, take it a step further, adding capital letters and numbers: aT02ccD.  That’s decent. Finalize your password by replacing the “0” with two bracket symbols “()” and changing the “2” to a “3.” Now you have: aT()3ccD. That’s a tough password to crack! 

Is it worth it? 

While it may seem like a lot of effort up front (especially if you have bad security habits!), protecting yourself is always worth it. Just ask anyone who has been a victim of identity theft.