When did you last change your password?
When was the last time you changed your password? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. Many people treat passwords like a favourite hoodie, once it’s comfy, it sticks around for years. But here’s the catch: hackers love that predictability. A password that’s older than six months is like leaving your front door key under the doormat. It doesn’t take much effort for someone determined to find it. We need a fine balance between a password so easy it can be guessed, and a password so complex but difficult to remember you end up writing it on a post-it note stuck to the laptop.
Think about what your password is protecting. Your emails, files, bank logins, maybe even the family photo archive. That’s not just data, it’s your digital life and a weak or stale password is the easiest way for an attacker to slip in unnoticed.
The Recipe for a Strong Password
So, how do you make a password that’s strong but also something you’ll actually remember?
- Go long. Aim for at least 12 characters. The longer, the better.
- Think unique. Don’t reuse the same password across multiple sites. One breach can ripple out and unlock a dozen accounts.
- Skip the clichés. No birthdays, pets, or football teams (sorry, Mr Fluffypaws).
- Try three random words. Something like River!Lamp98Window is easier to recall than a jumble of nonsense, but still secure.
Consider using an enterprise level password manager. It makes regularly changing your passwords much easier by securely storing them and generating strong, unique ones for every account, so updating doesn’t become a chore.
Refreshing your password might feel like a chore, but it’s one of the simplest ways to shut down a whole category of attacks. Cybercriminals rely on people being lazy with their logins so don’t give them the satisfaction.
Next time you log in and get prompted to change your password, think of it less as an inconvenience and more like changing the batteries in your smoke alarm. A small, regular action that protects you from much bigger problems.
