These days, the passwords to your devices are just about as important as the keys to your house. From your credit card numbers to your iPhone^® search history, a multitude of personal information can be found on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Sometimes, the only way to protect your livelihood and identity is to forge a strong defense against hackers and thieves. To ensure no one accesses your data but you, use the following tips to create reliable passwords.

3 Tips for Creating Strong Passwords

1. Avoid Personal Information

While it might be easiest to remember your children’s names, the street you live on, and your social security number, it’s imperative you leave personal data out of your internet passwords. After all, these are some of the pieces of information your passwords are meant to protect. Instead, choose a word or phrase no one will guess, such as your favorite pizza topping spelled backward, followed by the last two digits of your best friend’s phone number. The more obscure you can be when creating an email login or iPhone passcode, the safer your online profiles will be. 

2. Make Alternatives

No matter how strong your initial password is, it will automatically lose its reliability if you use the same combination of letters, numbers, and characters for all of the websites you frequent. In this case, if a hacker figures out one password, that means they gained access to your whole internet presence. Especially when it comes to online bank portals, company or college websites, email inboxes, and social media accounts, it’s crucial to change things up. Try adding a few extra numbers, making some letters capital, or using new characters to strengthen your alternative passwords. 

3. Protect & Update

Once you’ve found the perfect passwords, it’s important to protect them from being discovered. While there are sites that will keep track of your login information, it’s much safer to write them down on paper and keep them in a safe or vault at home. If you’ll be out of town for a while or are especially worried about someone figuring out your passwords, set a reminder in your iPhone to update them once every few months. Many businesses use this method to protect their employees’ logins, but you can also adopt it for your own internet use. 

If you’re looking for professional guidance with other common tech concerns, get in touch with Experimax Orland Park in Cook County, IL. As a locally owned and operated computer shop, this team can help you find viable repair solutions for your Apple^® products and refurbished replacement models at affordable prices. To learn more about their inventory, including iPhone devices and MacBook^® laptops, visit their website, or call (708) 949-8562 to ask about their 90-day warranty on all sales and repairs.