Password security

Changing passwords regularly is important to avoid being hacked.  For all your online websites.  Also is having proper passwords following some basic guidelines.  Hostpapa for example, just sent me an email letting me know their improving security by automatically forcing us to change our passwords every 90 days.  This is a pain in the *** but at the same time, it’s great security!  Remember people, what’s more of a pain for you, is more of a pain for hackers to get in.  Please find below a copy of the email from Hostpapa which explains some detail:

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Dear HostPapa customer,

This is to advise that HostPapa will be turning on the password automatic reset option for all cPanel passwords over the next few weeks. When this happens, you will be prompted to select and confirm a new password; you will not be able to log in to cPanel until you do.

From this point on, your cPanel account password will be automatically reset every 90 days.

We apologize for any inconvenience, however, this action is for your security. Our goal is to reduce the chances of your hosting account being hacked or otherwise compromised.

Below are some hints for ensuring strong passwords, for the protection of you and your files.

1. Use a different password for all applications
2. Do not “reset” your password back to an old one
3. Do not use dictionary-level words for passwords
4. Create a strong password: use a combination of upper and lower-case letters and numbers

Daniel Gauthier is a computer repair expert at Twinbytes Inc in Markham, Ontario.  Find him at www.twinbytes.ca

Here’s a link to a new post on passwords – Changing passwords regularly.