Just because you want to make sure you have strong security in ((blog.city)), ((blog.state)); it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on expensive software and do a ton of research on the latest threats. Knowing the basics is all you need if you are just an average person with normal security concerns.
The basics of cybersecurity include using strong passwords, storing the passwords in a password manager, so they aren’t forgotten, and using multi-factor authentication for everything.
You should also be changing your passwords regularly for even more protection. So, how often should you do this?
Change Passwords Monthly
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends that you change your passwords every thirty days at least once per month. You should also follow the advice as already outlined here regarding using multi-factor authentication. You should also always make your security questions random and not something that can be easily figured out by someone trying to gain access to your information.
However, is it absolutely necessary to change all of your passwords that often? We have information telling you otherwise.
No More Frequent Password Changes
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published that it is not necessary to have such frequent password changes. These recommendations were also published in their Digital Identity Guidelines. They are saying that doing so actually doesn’t improve a person’s security and just ends up making passwords too complex.
When You Should Change Passwords
So, instead of changing all your passwords every thirty days, it is recommended that you change them at key times as outlined below:
- After a security incident is disclosed
- You have evidence of unauthorized access to any of your accounts
- There may be malware
- You had shared access with someone else that no longer use the login for the account
- You logged in on a public computer
- It has been more than a year since your last password change
Changing your password after any of the above incidents in ((blog.city)), ((blog.state)) can help protect your accounts and make sure no one can get into them with the old password.
Best Way to Change Passwords
Now that you know when you should change your passwords, it is important to understand password guidelines to help save time and be smart about protecting your accounts.
