Passwords are a fundamental aspect of online security, providing a barrier to protecting your personal data from unauthorised access. However, as cyber threats continue to evolve, many experts now recommend changing your passwords regularly to ensure that they remain secure and also to get adequate cyber insurance.
While using passwords is tedious, it is vital to do so in order to keep your accounts secure, at least until a better solution is developed.
Most likely, you already take steps to ensure that your passwords are secure and challenging to guess. Never use the same password for multiple accounts at once if you want to go the extra mile.
But there’s another thing to think about: Should you regularly update your passwords? If yes, how frequently?
How frequently you should update your passwords, per cybersecurity professionals
According to conventional opinion, you should switch your passwords every few months. This has been the security professionals’ advice for many years, and it is still simple to find this guidance online.
People should strive to replace their passwords at least every three months, according to experts. This makes sure that if a password is compromised, a cybercriminal will only spend a small amount of time in the hijacked account. In addition to this, one must choose cyber insurance for individuals.
Although the majority of experts today disagree, that rationale still makes sense, which is excellent news for anyone who cringes at the notion of changing all of their passwords many times a year. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, a department of commerce organisation, published Digital Identity Guidelines in 2017 that revolutionised password security.
If each password is strong and distinct, there is no need to update them frequently until you become aware of a password breach. If you are utilising two-factor authentication, this is even more true.
Although not everyone supports this tactic, it is evident that many security professionals do. Users who constantly change their passwords end up taking shortcuts and unintentionally weakening and making their credentials more vulnerable to hacking.
Instead of often changing a strong password, abide by these recommendations:
- A strong and unique password should be used for every account.
- Use two-factor authentication wherever possible to prevent account compromise caused by a password crack. When two-factor authentication is used in conjunction with randomly generated passwords, the majority of user accounts become virtually impossible to breach.
- Employ a password manager to eliminate the necessity for writing down or memorising your passwords. In addition to storing all of your passwords in an encrypted vault, password managers will also fill them in for you. Password managers will check your current passwords for length, complexity, and repetition before generating new ones for each of your accounts.
- Change your password as soon as you suspect that one of your accounts has been compromised.
- Choose comprehensive cyber insurance in India.
Changing your passwords regularly is an important cybersecurity practice that helps to protect your online accounts and personal information from being compromised. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often you should change your passwords, it is generally recommended that you change them at least every 90 days or so. However, if you have reason to believe that your account may have been compromised or you use the same password across multiple accounts, it is best to change your password immediately. Additionally, using strong and unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being vigilant against phishing attacks are also crucial steps to take in maintaining the security of your online accounts. By adopting these best practices and also getting cyber insurance, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to cyber-attacks.
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