Urgent warning over password mistakes putting online accounts at risk – the steps to follow NOW

MILLIONS of people might be at risk of having their private data stolen because of weak computer passwords, experts have warned.

As people juggle the login information for all of their different accounts, digital security experts have reminded people about common errors people are making and steps they can take to avoid problems.

alengo / GettyDigital security experts are urgently warning people about common mistake millions are making when it comes to the passwords for their online accounts.[/caption]

According to a new survey from Uswitch.com one of the biggest missteps people make is the simple act of writing their passwords down by hand on paper, Express reported.

While it may be a helpful way to remember your login information, it could also easily be discovered by someone with bad intentions.

Uswitch advises people to never put their passwords down, whether it’s on a piece of paper or stored in an email on your computer.

Another common mistake people make is using common phrases or patterns like ‘12345’ or ‘qwerty.’ 

These types of codes are likely to be some of the first combinations a digital intruder might try when trying to access your digital world.

If you want to keep your accounts safe from hackers, another error that experts say you should avoid is incorporating personal information.

Using your birthdate may seem like a helpful way to incorporate numbers that you won’t forget.

The problem with that kind of information though, is anyone who knows you might be able to guess it.

Those types of personal details are also often available online and could be found by hackers, who are likely to zero in on this information first when attempting to break in to your accounts.

“It’s apparent that people are still making simple mistakes when it comes to choosing a password,” said Uswitch.com broadband expert Nick Baker.

“As most of our lives are stored online, it’s never been more important to ensure that our private data is protected, and having a strong password is the first line of defense against hackers.”

In addition to avoiding these popular mistakes, the digital security company also advises people to use different passwords for different accounts, not to let anyone else know what their passwords are, and not to incorporate names of family members. 

If you’re looking to take some proactive steps to beef up your digital privacy, Upswitch says there are a few things you can do.

Find ways to turn information or a phrase you will remember, into a code. An example of this, provided by Express, is: T3rRy550c1alMed!Ac1234 (Terrys Social Media Account).

Also, the longer and more complicated the better, which means include numbers, symbols, both upper and lower cases, and lengthen it whenever possible.