Technology
Your Gmail could be hacked in seconds if you make this ONE silly mistake
USING the same password for multiple sites leaves you much more vulnerable to hackers.
This one silly mistake could cost you a lot but there’s multiple services that can help you create stronger passwords.
GettyYou should use a different password for every account you have[/caption]
According to a recent survey by PCMag, 70% of adult respondents in the US admitted using the same password for several accounts.
Although it can be annoying to try and think up a new password for every account you have, it can stop a hacker accessing all your accounts.
If you use the same password repeatedly, a cyber-criminal only needs to steal your login details for one account before they can access all of them.
This could mean if your login details on a shopping site or social media are stolen then a hacker could end up on your Gmail in seconds.
As most online sites let you use your email address as a username, passwords can be the final piece of the puzzle for a hacker.
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The PCMag survey also revealed that 36% of the 1,041 study participants physically wrote down their passwords.
Another 24% stored them in electronic notes on their phone or device.
Keeping track of passwords like this isn’t advisable as it can also leave you vulnerable.
One of the most secure ways to keep track of a password is to memorise it but if you can’t do that then you may want to try a password manager.
Apple users can taken advantage of iCloud Keychain, which is a built in password management system.
Android users can take advantage of Google’s Smart Lock, which will remember passwords for them.
How to check if a password has been involved in a data breach
Have I Been Pwned is a website that lets you type in a password you’re worried about to see if its been involved in a data breach.
It also has a section where you can type in a email address or phone number you’re concerned about.
All you need to do is visit this website and type in your password to find out if it has been released in one of the many data breaches in recent years.
The website can tell you how many breaches your information has been involved in and some information about those breaches.
If it’s one or more you’ll be advised to update your passwords.
How to set up iCloud Keychain
First, you’ll need to make sure you’re using an Apple device running iOS 7.0.3 or later, or OS X 10.9 or later for Macs.
On your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, follow these steps:
Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud (on iOS 10.2 or earlier, it’s just Settings > iCloud)Tap KeychainTap the slider to turn on iCloud Keychain
For Mac devices, here’s what you need to do:
Click the Apple menu in the top leftChoose System PreferencesSelect iCloudSelect Keychain
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