A password is the string of texts,numbers and symbols that unlocks your online account. It's like a key that is used to unlock a locker. In the current cyber world passwords might be a boring topic but a few simple tips might prevent your account from being hacked. Weak passwords are a primary cause of your online account being hacked.

Before the tips, let's see how do hackers hack your account. The most simple and popular method is called the dictionary attack. Dictionary attack is not throwing a bunch of thick boring dictionaries at your computer screen. It is a process of running a list of passwords on your online account. It's like trying every password on your account but with some lines of code or software. Usually these password lists contain a lots of simple and common passwords. Password lists are available online for free(usually short lists), longer lists can be bought on the dark web. Obviously the top passwords are in these lists so if your password is in the list, you might been hacked already or you are about to be a victim. Dictionary attack is one of the many options for hacking passwords but there are a lot more techniques. The tips I'm telling you will help u avoid such attacks.

1. NEVER USE PASSWORDS THAT ARE IN THOSE DICTIONARY ATTACK LISTS OR PASSWORDS THAT WERE EXPOSED IN DATA BREACHES. This makes the hacker's job harder to crack your password. You could download those free lists online and check if your password is on it. If it is you might wanna change it now. Moreover, you could check your password on https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords. This website compares your password with those lists and passwords from recent data breaches. This is an easy way to make sure ur password is not a mouse click away. Here is a list of common passwords which you must avoid Password List 1000

2. USE LONG PASSWORDS. Usually these lists contain short and common passwords. The passwords are arranged from shortest to longest in this list. If your password is longer it would delay the time taken to hack your account or if your password is so long that it is not in the list there is no way you are vulnerable to a dictionary attack. Most website need a minimum of 8 characthers for your password. It never hurts to use more. Go for at least 12 charachthers, the more the better.

3. USE VARIOUS KEYBOARD CHARACTHERS. Make sure your password has a mixture of symbols, numbers, uppercase letters and lowercase letters. Why? Most passwords in those lists do not really follow this rule. Most of the passwords in those lists are simple. Using this method you are making your password more complex. The more complex your password, the less vulnerable you are.

4. NEVER USE COMMON WORDS IN YOUR PASSWORDS. Passwords with common words are abundant in those lists so it is best to avoid them. Try to use long phrases or words that are not even words in the english dictionary. You can always check your password with those common words at https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords and that is when you will realize that you need to change it.

5. NEVER USE THE SAME PASSWORD FOR ALL YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNTS. If a hacker gets one of your password correct from an online account. He could just click that same password in all your online accounts and thats the end of your cyber life. Make sure to use different passwords for different online account. If one account gets hacked you can still move on with life because the rest is still safe.

6. WRITE YOUR PASSWORDS IN A SECRET NOTEBOOK NOT SAVE IT IN AN ONLINE PASSWORD MANAGER. Password managers are vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. Some password managers do not even have basic encryption. If all your passwords were stollen from a password manager in a data breach then goodbye to your cyber life. Notebooks are not vulnerable to data breaches. Just make sure you hide away the notebook safely.

7. NEVER TYPE YOUR PASSWORD IN AN UNKNOWN DEVICE. The device might be installed with a keylogger. A keylogger is a software or sometimes a small usb device that records everything that you type on your keyboard. If there was a keylogger then the owner of that unknown device can steal your password so only type your passwords in your own or trusted devices.

All in all, password are the keys to your cyberspace so take care of your passwords to keep your cyber life safe.