Keep Yourself and Your Computer Safe: Use Strong Passwords

A short security article from our Towne Today newsletter (Spring 2015, Vol. 16, No. 1):

"The latest industry research shows that 50 percent of corporate passwords are crackable in only a few minutes, and 92 percent can be cracked within a month," reports Tony Scarola, TowneBank's Information Security Officer and senior vice president. "If someone has your password, they can steal your identity, transfer your money, or access your personal information. Strong passwords are essential to protecting your identity and information."

Here are a few tips to create strong passwords and keep them safe:

• Use long passwords. The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack. Use at least eight characters: 10 or 12 is even better.

• Mix letters, numbers, and special characters. Use upper case and lower case letters, numbers and symbols like $, %, &.

• Don't use your name, birthdate or common words. "Password" is the most frequently used password--so definitely do not use that!

• Use a "passphrase" rather than a password--for example, the phrase "my bank rocks" could become "My b@nk r0cks!" This is more secure than a password because it is longer and contains more special characters, including spaces. Plus it should be easier to remember. (If a system doesn't allow for spaces, use an underscore instead.)

• Don't use the same password for several different accounts. If your password stolen, it can then be used to access many of your accounts.

• Dont share your passwords over the phone in text messages or emails. If you receive a request from a company for your password DON'T share it. It's probably a scam.

• Change your passwords often, and don't reuse a password for at least one year.

• Keep your passwords in a secure place.

For more security tips, see https://townebank.com/top_navigation_links/internet_security_tips/

The complete newsletter can be found here: https://townebank.com/top_navigation_links/newsletter/