As our everyday lifestyle becomes ever more digital and convenient in the modern day, the concern of security against cybercrime is present in the minds of any user. Hence, it is imperative to spread awareness on how to be safe online and protect ourselves in the digital space. One of the most common ways for cyber criminals to hack into an online account is through passwords that are easy to crack and by scamming people that leave confidential information online via social media – such as a photo of your personal details or sharing credit card details with anyone. To outsmart the criminals, he first step is to create a strong pin or password. The important thing to remember is Staying Away from the Obvious. While these are the easiest numbers and information to remember, they are also the simplest for cybercriminals to decipher. Here’s a list of the most common passwords in 2021 [1]:
- 123456
- 123456789
- 12345
- qwerty
- password
- 12345678
- 111111
- 123123
- 1234567890
- 1234567
- qwerty123
- 000000
- 1q2w3e
- aa12345678
- abc123
- password1
- 1234
- qwertyuiop
- 123321
- password123
As you can see, sequential numbers are very popular but that is what cybercriminals look for. In addition to that, it is also prudent to avoid passwords that has your publicly available personal information, especially those searchable on social media, such as:
- Your birthday date (and those of your families and friends)
- Any part of your IC number
- Combination of name with birth year
Instead, here’s a simple to follow guide to help you set a strong and unique PIN or password.
1. The longer the better
Did you know that a long password is considered a strong password. Why? Because it makes it harder and requires more effort for a code-breaking software or hacker to decipher it. Maximise on the number of characters a platform provides, with a general rule of thumb being at least 12 characters.
2. Incorporate symbols and numbers
This should be a must and the more symbols and numbers you incorporate, the stronger your password should be. So taking the above example, here is a strong password: “!WannaD@nc3Tonight!”. Make sure to not overtly complicate it though, otherwise, it would be difficult to remember the order or sequence of your password.
3. Incorporate your favourite emojis
This is just another way to further strengthen your password. Using the same examples as above, here’s one way to include your favorite emoji: “!WannaD@nc3Tonight!;D”
Now that you’ve set a strong password, the next step is thinking about how to keep it secure. Here’s quick dos and don’ts:
- Don’t share your PIN or password to anyone.
- Don’t reuse your passwords
- Never use the same password across multiple accounts
- Change your password every 3 months – which is recommended by IT experts
- Use multi-factor authentication or biometric recognition
#Tip: Did you know you can also use biometric recognition such as fingerprint to authenticate transactions?
When using Boost, we have included this security feature to further ensure you have a secure and safe online experience. Applicable for both Android and iOS devices, simply to ‘Profile’ > ‘Account Settings’ > ‘Enable Fingerprint Payment’ to activate
Try it out today, download the Boost app now by clicking this link: https://myboost.app.link/u1WEKA4oZpb