Choosing and Changing a Secure Password
Why You Need a Secure Password
Choosing a strong, secure password reduces the risk that your password will be guessed or stolen by a password thief. A password thief can use your password to access your email and send email in your name, change your personal information, or publish inappropriate or illegal material. A thief may also be able to use your password to break into your company systems.
A strong, secure password is good for you and your biz!
Guidelines for Creating a Secure Password
When you change your password your new password may be checked for strength.
Your new password must:
- Use nine or more characters.
- Have at least three of these:
- Lowercase letters
- Uppercase letters
- Numerals
- Punctuation
And must not:
- Be a word—or contain four numbers in ascending or descending order (for example, 12345 or 8765).
- Use parts of your name.
Use the first letters of the words in a phrase to make a strong and memorable password. For example, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth" becomes 4S&7yaofb4th.
Select a unique password for business use. Do not use your business password outside of work for other computing accounts. Runbiz uses strong encryption methods to protect your password. If you use that same password for services that do not offer such protection, you put your business password and account at risk.
A Quick Note on Passwords from Runbiz
How to Keep Track of Multiple Passwords
- Use a Password Manager - create a ridiculously strong password for your password manager, then allow your password manager to create and store your passwords for all other accounts. Devices you use daily will store the log in credentials. Logging in on a device you have never used before will require you to look the password up in the manager.
Tips for Protecting Your Password
- Don't tell anyone your password—not even trusted family members and computer support staff.
- Runbiz will not ask you to tell us your password. We will have you type it in yourself.
- Use a different password for each online account. That way, if one password is compromised, your other accounts are not at risk. It is especially important that you refrain from using your work password for personal services.
- Use only secure programs when connecting to your work environment—programs that protect your password and your data.
- If the service provides a logout feature, use it every time you exit the service.
- If you must write down your password to help you remember it, it is better to write down a clue to jog your memory rather than the actual password. Keep it in a safe, secure place, and do not leave it where others could see it.