Latest news with #passwordmanager
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
What the Tech: Perfect passwords
How fast can your password be hacked? For many, it's a matter of seconds. While password managers and two-factor authentication are valuable tools, there's a simple, yet incredibly effective way to create strong passwords that are both secure and memorable. Forget paying for extra apps or services. I've discovered a clever technique to generate unique, robust passwords for every single account you have, using something you already love: your favorite music. Creating a genuinely strong password can seem daunting. Cybersecurity experts recommend at least 14 characters, a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and a unique password for each account. But how do you manage all that without getting overwhelmed or resorting to weak, easily guessable passwords? Here's the trick: start with the titles of two of your favorite songs. Let's say you're a fan of Bruce Springsteen and choose 'Racing in the Streets' and 'Darkness on the Edge of Town.' Capitalize the first letter of each major word in the titles. This gives you 'DOTEOTRITS.' Next, add a symbol somewhere within this sequence and change the function words (like 'on,' 'in,' 'the') to lowercase. Now, let's incorporate numbers by substituting the letter 'O's' with zeros. This modified string is already a strong password, but we're going to make it even better. To make this password unique to each account, add the first letter of the account name to the beginning and the last letter to the end. For Facebook, it would become 'FDOTE0n the EdgE0f Racing in The StreetS.' For Google, it would be 'GE.' For LinkedIn, it's 'LN.' You can apply this same method to your bank account, email, or any other online service. The beauty of this method is its simplicity and memorability. All you need to recall are the two song titles. After a short while, you won't even have to think about it; the pattern will become ingrained. This type of password can take a standard computer 31 years to crack. Adding just one number to the beginning could extend that cracking time to centuries! You can bypass the expense of a password manager and easily remember your passwords even if you haven't accessed an account in years. It's a simple yet powerful way to enhance your online security. Want to test the strength of your current passwords? Visit to see how they fare against common hacking methods. Take control of your security today with this easy and effective password strategy! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- The Guardian
What to do if you can't get into your Facebook or Instagram account
Your Facebook or Instagram account can be your link to friends, a profile for your work or a key to other services, so losing access can be very worrying. Here's what to do if the worst happens. If you have access to the phone number or email account associated with your Facebook or Instagram account, try to reset your password by clicking on the 'Forgot password?' link on the main Facebook or Instagram login screen. Follow the instructions in the email or text message you receive. If you no longer have access to the email account linked to your Facebook account, use a device with which you have previously logged into Facebook and go to Enter any email address or phone number you might have associated with your account, or find your username which is the string of characters after on your page. Click on 'No longer have access to these?', 'Forgotten account?' or 'Recover' and follow the instructions to prove your identity and reset your password. If your account was hacked, visit or on a device you have previously used to log in and follow the instructions. Visit the help with a hacked account page for Facebook or Instagram. Change the password to something strong, long and unique, such as a combination of random words or a memorable lyric or quote. Avoid simple or guessable combinations. Use a password manager to help you remember it and other important details. Turn on two-step verification in the 'password and security' section of the Accounts Centre. Use an authentication app or security key for this, not SMS codes. Save your recovery codes somewhere safe in case you lose access to your two-step authentication method. Turn on 'unrecognised login' alerts in the 'password and security' section of the Accounts Centre, which will alert you to any suspicious login activity. Remove any suspicious 'friends' from your account – these could be fake accounts or scammers. If you are eligible, turn on 'advanced protection for Facebook' in the 'password and security' section of the Accounts Centre.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
What to do if you can't get into your Facebook or Instagram account
Your Facebook or Instagram account can be your link to friends, a profile for your work or a key to other services, so losing access can be very worrying. Here's what to do if the worst happens. If you have access to the phone number or email account associated with your Facebook or Instagram account, try to reset your password by clicking on the 'Forgot password?' link on the main Facebook or Instagram login screen. Follow the instructions in the email or text message you receive. If you no longer have access to the email account linked to your Facebook account, use a device with which you have previously logged into Facebook and go to Enter any email address or phone number you might have associated with your account, or find your username which is the string of characters after on your page. Click on 'No longer have access to these?', 'Forgotten account?' or 'Recover' and follow the instructions to prove your identity and reset your password. If your account was hacked, visit or on a device you have previously used to log in and follow the instructions. Visit the help with a hacked account page for Facebook or Instagram. Change the password to something strong, long and unique, such as a combination of random words or a memorable lyric or quote. Avoid simple or guessable combinations. Use a password manager to help you remember it and other important details. Turn on two-step verification in the 'password and security' section of the Accounts Centre. Use an authentication app or security key for this, not SMS codes. Save your recovery codes somewhere safe in case you lose access to your two-step authentication method. Turn on 'unrecognised login' alerts in the 'password and security' section of the Accounts Centre, which will alert you to any suspicious login activity. Remove any suspicious 'friends' from your account – these could be fake accounts or scammers. If you are eligible, turn on 'advanced protection for Facebook' in the 'password and security' section of the Accounts Centre. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Verge
20-05-2025
- The Verge
Google Chrome will be able to automatically change your bad passwords
Google is going to let Chrome's password manager automatically change your password when it detects one that is weak, the company announced at its Google I/O conference. 'When Chrome detects a compromised password during sign-in, Google Password Manager prompts the user with an option to fix it automatically,' according to a blog post. 'On supported websites, Chrome can generate a strong replacement and update the password for the user automatically.' Google is announcing the feature at Google I/O so that developers can start to prepare their websites and apps for the change ahead of when it launches later this year. Chrome's password manager can already tell you if you have an unsafe password. 'But if we tell you your password is weak, it's really annoying to actually have to change your password,' Parisa Tabriz, VP and GM of Chrome, said in a briefing ahead of the event. 'And we know that if something is annoying, people are not going to actually do it. So we see automatic password change as a win for safety, as well as usability. Overall, that's a win-win for users.' I asked if Chrome might automatically change passwords on a regular basis so they're never outdated, but Tabriz says that Chrome won't change a bad or compromised password without user consent. 'We're very much focused on keeping the user in control of changing their password.'
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
How can you safely remember your passwords?
From emails to bank accounts to streaming services, it seems like everything requires a password nowadays. It can be hard to keep track of them, especially after making a new one. Here are some smart and secure steps you should take to remember your password. Having just two passwords is a low and risky amount, yet understandable given the annoyance that comes with keeping track of several of them. Has this happened to you: You make a new password, but then you forget it. So, you reset it. But soon you forget that password as well, starting painful loop of repeatedly making new passwords that you struggle to remember. "It's the number one reason that people end up creating weak passwords or reusing passwords," said Mark Sommerfeld. He's a managing partner at RYMARK IT Navigation. How can we safely remember our passwords? For Sommerfeld, the answer is simple. "The number one recommendation I would have is using a password manager app," he said. Password manager apps encrypt your passwords so that only you can access them. They also create unique passwords for all your accounts. BitWarden, Dashlane, and LastPass are the apps Sommerfeld's company recommends. Sommerfeld disagrees with the idea of using passwords that are familiar to you. "When you're trying to memorize the password, now you begin making them easier, shorter. You maybe put your birthday, your pets name, something like that," he said. By making a password easy to remember, you then make it easy to hack. Other mistakes include writing them down on a piece of paper. The paper could be lost or seen by someone else. Another bad idea is creating a digital document listing all your passwords, then storing it on your phone or computer. How can you make a strong password? Best practices include: Make it long, like 12-15 characters Use numbers, symbols, and upper/lower case letters Avoid using anything familiar in your life (pet names, sports teams, birthdates) "If somebody can look at your Facebook page and get details about you, don't use any of those details that they would be able to find about you," Sommerfeld said. Lastly, use two-factor authentication when possible, and specifically use app-based authentication. "In the case where you password gets breached, hacked, or found there is a second layer protecting that account for you," said Sommerfeld.
