The number of passwords stolen on social media is “staggering,” according to the Better Business Bureau.

In 2016, 32 million Twitter password accounts were hacked and in 2012, 117 million user names and passwords were siphoned from LinkedIn, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

A 2017 Norton Cyber Security Insights Report revealed 10 million Canadians experienced cybercrime within the last year. And, 53 per cent were impacted by an online security threat or know someone who was, the report revealed.

This is why the BBB is announcing its third annual BBB National Password Day on March 15.

“Whether you are a consumer or a business owner, it’s important to change your passwords on all online accounts two or three times a year to better protect personal and financial information,” the BBB said in a release.

Len Andrusiak, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario said that by the end of the decade, the average person will have more than 200 online accounts and subscriptions that contain sensitive information.

“Online security is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Company data is one of the most valuable assets in your business. Some analysts suggest up to 58 per cent of businesses are not prepared for breach or loss of their data,” he said. “Protection is all about prevention through due diligence.”

The BBB encourages everyone to celebrate National Password Day by scheduling 30 minutes to update your passwords across bank accounts, social networks, email accounts and even point-of-sale equipment.

To reduce your risk of being hacked, the BBB recommends using a different password for each account, not sharing any of your passwords with anyone, changing your passwords regularly — at least three times a year, update the password for cellphones and build strong passwords by using at least eight characters, upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.