Lifestyle

The Three Keys to a Great Password

A great password is often the only thing standing between you and identity theft. But what makes a password really secure? Turns out, there are some important guidelines to follow to keep information safe. Read on for three smart tips.

1. Know the latest security standards.The National Institute of Standards and Technology has established some new rules for setting more-secure passwords.MAKE YOUR PASSWORDS LONGER.Longer passwords are harder to decipher. Try using short phrases instead of just one word.AVOID PASSWORDS HINTS OR RESET QUESTIONS. Password hints aren’t all that effective and can actually make it easier to hack into your accounts.DON’T REPEAT THE SAME NUMBER OR LETTER.Something like “yessssss999” is much too easy for identity thieves to crack.DON’T USE COMMON IDENTIFIERS AS A PASSWORD.For example, if your name is Jane Smith and you’re setting up a Netflix account, don’t use “janesmith” or “Netflix” as your password.

2.Don't use the same password more than once. By using the same password on multiple services, you are potentially giving hackers access to every service where you're using that password. This is like having a single key that opens your house, your, car, and your bank's safety deposit box. If someone steals that key, they can access everything you own. Always create different keys, or passwords, for separate accounts.

3. Make use of a password manager. A password management tool is your greatest ally. These are programs or apps that will create unique passwords on each of your accounts and store them all for you in a single, secure location, so you'll never lose them again. They can also sync with multiple devices and auto-populate passwords whenever you need them, saving you a ton of time and trouble.

The World Wide Web can be complicated, but setting secure passwords doesn't have to be. With a bit of effort, you can use smart practices to help keep all your accounts safe and secure. SOURCE: The National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2019

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Stephen Eldridge has more than 50 years of direct industry experience, having founded Stephen Eldridge & Company, a retirement plan administration firm, in 1972. Early in his career, following the passage of the Employee Retirement...

Susan B. Eldridge

Susan Eldridge is president and chief compliance officer of Eldridge Investment Advisors, Inc. She also serves as branch practice manager for the LPL Financial broker/dealer branch office.

Craig A. Garner, CPFA

Craig Garner, a 33-year veteran of the firm, provides education and assistance in a number of areas, including plan document review, ERISA guidance and ongoing compliance education. Craig also conducts operational plan reviews that...

Eric J. Putney, MBA, PPC, AIF®

A registered financial advisor and Professional Plan Consultant (PPC™), Eric Putney attained the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation for advanced training in investment fiduciary responsibility. He brings...

Sean P. Riley

With over 29 years of experience working in asset management and employer sponsored retirement plans, Sean Riley brings an insider’s perspective to his role as a consultant and advisor for our clients. Sean joined the firm in...

Kevin D. Whitmore

Kevin Whitmore brings almost five decades of securities industry experience to his role as a financial advisor. After earning a B.A. in business and economics from St. Anselm College, Kevin began his career in the securities business...

Stephen Murray

With over 20 years of experience in the investment industry, Stephen Murray provides research analysis and portfolio management. Prior to joining the firm in 2016, he was Director of Research and Portfolio Manager with Harvest Capital...

Meg E. Dworkin

Meg Dworkin provides support for the registered assistants in addition to being a member of the retirement plan team. She has 20+ years of experience in the areas of defined contribution, defined benefit and individual taxation. Meg...

Susan Lipsett

Susan Lipsett is a research assistant and administrative assistant supporting the firms’ client portfolio managers as well as financial advisors Sean Riley and Kevin Whitmore. She collects and distributes...

Justin B. Eldridge

Justin joined the firm in 2016 to assist in the areas of sales and research and has since taken on the role of financial advisor. He oversees the quarterly reporting of retirement plans and implementation of financial planning software...

The Three Keys to a Great Password

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