Shielding Accounts: Crafting Strong Passwords and Embracing 2FA
Is your password protecting you, or is it a ticking time bomb waiting to explode?
In an age of increasing digital threats, your online security is paramount. To fortify our digital defenses, two essential tools emerge as the front line of protection: crafting strong passwords and embracing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Account security is one of the essential topics for Price2Spy, so we updated the password security policy.
Let’s see what these changes are and why they are so important.
Password security guidance – how to create a strong password
Have you ever heard of Pwned passwords? Pwned passwords are real passwords used all over the world and have previously become a subject of data breaches. In other words, these are the passwords that hackers managed to get their hands on.
One of the ways to tell whether your password is good enough is to use some of the Pwned password tools that will show you if a password similar to yours has already been breached.
So, how to create a strong password?
When developing a strong password, it’s recommended to create a unique combination of characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information such as birthdates, names, or common words, as attackers can exploit these. Instead, opt for a passphrase that combines seemingly unrelated words or use a random string of characters for added complexity.
Regularly updating passwords and refraining from using the same one across multiple accounts are vital practices to prevent a single breach from compromising all your accounts.
Another popular way of improving your account security is by introducing 2-factor authentication (2FA).
2FA – why it’s important
As the name suggests, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security method that uses two different ways of identification to allow you to access something. It has become a common way of improving online account security, as well as the security of a smartphone.
This means that the users need to go through 2-factor authentication by providing different types of information. In most cases, that’s a password and a code sent to the user’s phone.
Unfortunately, it’s a common practice among users to use the same password on various websites. That creates waste opportunities for hackers to easily break the security systems.
Therefore, 2FA prevents unauthorized users from accessing your account by only using the stolen password. 2FA is the combination of your password (something you know) and other information that is strictly yours, such as a verification code that is sent to your phone (something you have).
This combination can greatly improve your online security and save you from possible password breaches, but you still need to be mindful of where you leave personal information.
Updating Price2Spy password security policy
Price2Spy is well aware of the online threats and we keep thinking of ways to protect our clients further. Thus, we decided to improve our password security policy.
That means the following:
- passwords should be a minimum of 12 characters in length after multiple spaces are combined;
- we permit any printable Unicode character, including language-neutral characters such as spaces and Emojis in passwords;
- All passwords are automatically checked against a list of Pwned passwords, that have already been compromised on the web before – if your password is on the list, you will be prompted to enter a different passcode
- 2FA will be introduced to make your data even safer and prevent any malicious data breaches
Conclusion
By understanding the principles of password strength and recognizing the significance of 2FA, we empower ourselves to take control of our online safety.
We at Price2Spy highly value our client’s privacy, so we will continue to do everything we can to keep improving our security systems.
In case you notice any unusual activity, we invite you to get in touch with your account manager.
