{"id":4640,"date":"2026-09-22T03:34:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T03:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/?p=4640"},"modified":"2026-09-22T03:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T03:34:58","slug":"5-habits-that-help-keep-your-passwords-and-other-data-secure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/5-habits-that-help-keep-your-passwords-and-other-data-secure\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Habits That Help Keep Your Passwords and Other Data Secure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The number of publicly reported data breaches, exposures and leaks increased by 78 percent in 2023 \u2014 a leap not altogether expected because of a slight decrease in cases from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from the nonprofit Identity<\/a><\/strong> Theft Resource Center in El Cajon, California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your personally identifiable information such as name, address, account numbers, email addresses, health data, login information, Medicare ID, passport numbers, passwords, Social Security number<\/a><\/strong> or telephone number was among the more than 350 million records that were copied, inadvertently exposed or even ransomed, taking immediate steps to prevent identity theft is paramount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having your name and address on the dark web might not be much of a problem by itself; that information used to be publicly available in the phonebook<\/a><\/strong>. But when scammers can match data with other pieces of information from your life, the risk increases that they could impersonate you elsewhere or target you personally for fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Password security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 How to build a better password<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Members Only: Frustrations<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Using a password manager<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 The future of logging in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Data safety habits to cultivate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artificial intelligence<\/a><\/strong> (AI) helps that linking happen more quickly. Some people last year had data stolen two or more times. The number of people living in the U.S. is less than 340 million, the Census Bureau says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019ve managed to slip under the radar of the worldwide web of hackers, you should make a vow to create stronger, more secure passwords<\/a><\/strong> to keep your data safe. After you\u2019ve altered your scores of passwords to be lengthy and unique, you\u2019ll still have to take steps to make cybersafety second nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Know how to lock your docs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re used to writing passwords on sticky notes, you\u2019re not alone. Nearly half of Americans age 50 to 64 say they \u201calways,\u201d \u201calmost always\u201d or \u201coften\u201d write down their passwords<\/a><\/strong>, a practice that makes security experts cringe, according to a Pew Research Center survey in October 2023. That percentage jumps to nearly two-thirds of respondents 65 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than writing passwords<\/a><\/strong> on a sticky note, some people keep a list of passwords on their computer<\/a><\/strong> in a spreadsheet, word processing document or notes app. If you do, encrypt or lock the file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a Windows PC<\/a><\/strong> in an open Microsoft Word document, click File | Info | Protect Document | Encrypt with Password. Then create a password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a Mac with an open Word document, click on Review | Protect Document in the ribbon atop the story. You can set a password to open or modify the document or both. Hit OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Mac<\/a><\/strong> users who have Pages as a built-in word processor, choose  File | Set Password and enter a desired password. You\u2019ll be asked to type it a second time. Apple recommends adding a password hint. You have the option of checking a box to save it to your iCloud<\/a><\/strong> Keychain, a built-in password manager for Apple devices, then click Set Password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Change your passwords regularly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you work or worked recently for a large company, you probably were required to change your password every 90 days. You may have seen a countdown calendar tucked among the many icons on yourcomputer screen<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cybersecurity experts remain divided on the frequency of modifying passwords, but most suggest every three months. Set a calendar reminder<\/a><\/strong> or think about it as part of your routine when the seasons change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you learn either through news reports or notification from a company whose systems were hacked that your account was compromised, change that particular password<\/a><\/strong> immediately \u2014 and maybe some others if you\u2019ve been a password recycler. Don\u2019t delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making minor changes to an old password<\/a><\/strong> is not helpful, the National Institute of Standards and Technology says. Attackers can apply the same minor tweaks to gain access to your accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Install antimalware apps, keep them updated<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have antivirus software on your devices, install reputable apps such as Bitdefender, McAfee<\/a><\/strong> or Norton, to protect you from ransomware, spyware, Trojan horses, viruses and worms. Device manufacturers, eager to tamp down attacks on their equipment and their reputations, are including more of this security free with purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you decide to add third-party protection for a subscription or stay with what\u2019s free, keep the software updated<\/a><\/strong>. You can set your devices to automatically update operating systems and antivirus software, so you don\u2019t have to remember. Set updates for your hardware, too, such as a wireless router and printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Use two-factor authentication or a VPN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make it tougher for cybercriminals to access your online accounts by adding a second layer of defense. Multifactor authentication, also known as two-factor authentication, adds a layer of security on top of your password or biometrics with a onetime code typically texted to your mobile phone, sent to your email account or even called via voice bot to your landline telephone<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or you can opt for a virtual private network (VP<\/a><\/strong>N) that connects to a secure, encrypted server, keeping you anonymous and safe even if you\u2019re accessing  public Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Be prepared for your death<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After years of online activity, our digital footprints<\/a><\/strong> become our legacy of sorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting your accounts organized and your passwords secure will help your loved ones deal with your affairs when you die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some websites and password manager apps<\/a><\/strong> let you identify a digital beneficiary to access your accounts. The key is to let that person know in advance, so they\u2019re prepared to follow your wishes and can access your digital vault.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The number of publicly reported data breaches, exposures and leaks increased by 78 percent in 2023 \u2014 a leap not altogether expected because of a slight decrease in cases from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center in El Cajon, California. If your personally identifiable information such as … Continue reading “5 Habits That Help Keep Your Passwords and Other Data Secure”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2512],"class_list":["post-4640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-passwords-secure"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4640"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4641,"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4640\/revisions\/4641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tech-battery.com\/batteriesblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}