When you are accessing personal information through the internet such as using online banking, checking your brokerage account or managing your 401k, you want to make sure that you are using a secure password that is not easy to guess. Password theft can be very detrimental as you may not realize it until the damage has been done. If someone can hack your password, they will be able to get into your account and change the password so that you are locked out.

Here are 7 practical ways you can protect yourself from password theft.

1. Do not use your login name
Even though it is easier to remember when you use the login name also as your password, it is too easy to guess. You should also avoid using common things like your name, birthdate, house number or telephone number as your password. These things are among the first things that someone who has your information will guess in order to get into your account.

2. Use a long password
Try to use as many characters as possible. Each letter, number or symbol that you include to lengthen your password increases the level of difficulty in hacking your password. Most systems recognize at least 8-character passwords.

3. Mix and match
Feel free to use the whole keyboard in making your password. Use letters, numbers, and symbols or if it is permitted, use space or the shift key to strengthen further your code.

4. Avoid a series of letters or numbers
Using a simple series of numbers such as 12345678 or 7777777 as your password is another common mistake. Why make it easier for the hackers to get into your account?

5. Use different passwords for different accounts
The reason behind using different passwords is that if one of your account gets compromised, you don’t want the thief to also have access to the rest of your accounts. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using the same login name and password on multiple accounts. If you have trouble remembering so many different passwords, there are programs available such as Roboform that will help you autofill usernames and passwords on different sites. All you have to do then is to set a secure main password that will give you access to the rest of your passwords.

6. Change your password every 3 months
You can also protect yourself by changing your password regularly. Choose the time interval you are comfortable with. For some, this can be 3 months while others may prefer a shorter time frame such as every month. This is an easy yet an effective way to protect your important information.

7. Keep your password to yourself
Sometimes even the most obvious things have to be said. Don’t tell anyone else your password. If possible try not to write down your password.  Some people write them on a piece of paper and stuff it into their wallet. But what if your wallet gets stolen? Then your online accounts will be at risk too.

Our passwords are the first line of defense against computer hackers. It is also the weakest in providing computer security. The crooks get more sophisticated as develop better password breaking programs. In order to counteract this, you have to do your part. Now is a good time to check your passwords and see if they pass these security tests.

Technorati Tags: password security, keeping your password safe