Without Safe Passwords, Your Business Is at Risk

How safe are YOUR passwords?

You think it will never happen to you.  I mean, why would anyone want YOUR passwords?  I bet you think you’re just a little fish in the stream of life and that hackers will never notice you.  Wrong!  Those hackers love to fish in the little streams and catch a boat load of little fish.  It’s so much easier than trying to harpoon a whale!

You are very important to hackers.  You have account numbers,  a credit score, and good reputation.  Those are the very things life hackers are looking for, and if you run a business you could be a dream come true for them.

So let me ask again.  How safe are your passwords?

Are you using strong passwords for EVERY online account?

Please don’t tell me you use your birthday or your dog’s name or (heaven forbid!) PASSWORD.  A strong password has 2 qualities:

1. It’s never a single word or name.
2. It isn’t easy to remember.

I bet that 2^nd quality surprised you. You think you can remember all of your passwords, but that won’t work for you if your passwords are strong.

Have you used the same password more than once?

Most people start off with a favorite password – nice and short and easy to remember.  They use it everywhere.  Do you do that?  Stop.  If a hacker gets control of even one of your accounts then he has control of everything that uses your “favorite” password.  So how will you keep track of all those unique, strong passwords? Yeah.  That’s a big question.

Are you storing your logins in a safe place?

Thieves know that some people hide money in the freezer or in the cookie jar.  Hackers know that you probably keep a list of your passwords on your computer.  It seems like a logical place for computer passwords.  Hackers know it, too.  Or maybe you’re old school and keep your passwords on slips of paper or index cards.  I bet that’s really handy for you.  I have 427 sites with unique passwords.  Can you picture me shuffling 427 index cards?  No.

Have you shared your username and password with a team member, VA or friend?

This is especially common in business.  You have someone work on your website and you give them your log in and password.  Or you need an employee to help you with Facebook. Do you keep track of what passwords you shared and when?

I’ll be teaching a hands-on class about safe passwords and password security at NAMS 10 in Atlanta, GA on Aug. 8.  I’d love to have you join me there.

Are you putting your business at risk? What action will you take right now to protect your business?  Bring your laptop to the hands-on class at NAMS10 and we’ll help you have strong, safe passwords that keep your business safe and secure!