If you saw the title and you’re thinking, “why in the world would I give away my password?”, then you’re already on the track to keeping your password more secure than nearly 60% of people.

That’s right, password behaviors are often a security concern due to poor user habits.

In spite of growing online cyber threats and the rise of hacking, password behaviors remain largely unchanged from previous years.

According to a study conducted by Lab42, 91% of people are aware that they are taking a risk using the same password for multiple online accounts, yet 59% continue to use the same password.

Now, I’m sure some of you reading this blog post are guilty of following this trend, and it’s okay, we all have our vices, but know that you’re not alone and if you keep reading, you can prepare to change your password habits for the better.

Cyber threats are the real deal and millions of online records are violated every day.

While online attacks become more concentrated and successful, the fear of an attack increases, while proactive password security remains about the same.

Why is that?

If users are aware of the risks they are taking when they reuse the same password across their accounts, leave passwords written on sticky notes, share them with friends or co-workers, etc., then why continue the trend?

Why not follow some basic secure password tips?

Well, the answer is typically the same across the board; forgetting.

The most common reason users have for reusing passwords is that they are worried they’ll forget it.

Not only do users use the same password for multiple accounts, but they will continue to use the password for as long as they possibly can before their account or their IT support staff notifies them that they must change their password.

Check it out: Uncovering Password Habits (Infographic)

We’ve all been there.

You are asked to create a new password and it feels like they require everything but the kitchen sink to be included.

Lowercase, uppercase, numbers, special symbols, and maybe your first born?

With the average person having about 25 online accounts that require a login, it’s easy to understand why so many want to reuse the same password across the board.

Remembering all of those passwords can be a hassle when we lead such busy, fast-paced lives, it is often cumbersome to be burdened with dozens of different passwords to remember.

But the bigger picture is important to keep in mind.

Your online security and protecting your personal information should be a top priority.

Now, we can acknowledge that there is a fundamental difference in priority over your Twitter account and your Bank account for example.

While hackers are smart and know how poor password habits are, the wise decision is to create different passwords for every online account you have.

But, realistically, that just won’t happen too fast, too soon for many people.

Until we get to a password utopia, let’s try to work on refining some of the bad habits.

3 Passwords

If dozens of individual passwords aren’t really realistic for you right now, trying using 3.

Hey, it’s better than 1 general password, right?

Use one password for all your social media accounts and other accounts that aren’t too important, or at least not vital to your personal security.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, etc.

They can all probably stand to share an easy-to-remember password.

The second password you have is the one that you were forced to create using 8 characters including a number and an upper-case letter.

This password is safe for emails and other similar personal accounts.

The third password you have is your bank and financial password.

This is the most secure of the three and should be vastly different from the others.

Check it out: How To Recognize These Common Phishing Hacks

Password Formula

We talked about creating a basic password that’s easy to remember, but please at least try to avoid those that lack even the slightest creative edge.

Passwords like “12345” or “password”.

You might as well just invite everyone to your computer to view your social media accounts.

Try using childhood nicknames, pet names, maybe a pop culture reference, etc. to help you remember easier.

To create the most secure password you can for bank accounts, avoid using any part of your username, your real name, or the company name, as well as a whole word.

You want to aim for a password that is about 12 characters long and contains uppercase letters lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

 See also: What Is 2 Factor Sign In? Should I Be Using It?

Remember Your Roots

If you are creating new passwords for all of your different online accounts and need a simple way to remember them, try using the root letter for each website they are a part of.

For example, your HubSpot password may begin with an “H”, or your Gmail password may begin with a “G”.

Follow the root letters with the rest of the ingredients for a secure password.

If you have two websites beginning with the same letter, use the first root letter, followed by the second or last letter that will help you differentiate between the websites. 

Check it out: How To Create a Strong Password (Video)

Update on the Regular

Remember to update your password regularly.

Typically, there is a 90-day rule to changing passwords.

Updating your passwords every few months helps to protect your online data and privacy.

Hackers don't always just take what they need and then run off.

Often times, they will come back for more.

Changing your password regularly helps to put roadblocks in place to keep them at bay.

Also, routine password changes makes it more difficult for people to guess what it is. 

Check it out: Top 5 Infamous Hackers

Two-Factor Authentication

Consider adding an extra layer of security to all your logins with 2FA or two-factor authentication.

Such as DUO.

By using two-factor authentication, user’s identities will have to be first be verified before gaining access to their data.

This can be done in three ways: sending a push notification, by phone call, or with a verification code sent to their smartphone which prevents access on other devices or applications until the code is entered.

So, even if someone knows your password, they won’t be able to successfully login without verifying who they are.

Password Management Software

If you really struggle with memorizing all these passwords, but want to keep your online information secure, a password manager is your answer.

A password manager creates unique and individual passwords for all the websites you log in to and stores them using encryption.

All you have to remember is one master password!

There are a lot of options out there to choose from.

Some of the most used managers include LastPass, Dashlane, and Keeper.

Each of these management softwares are compatible with a variety of operating systems from Windows to Mac.

And the best part is that they each offer a free version!

What's better than keeping your online information secure for free?

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