Safe, secure password tips.

Have you been hacked due to a weak email password?  It’s more and more common, and just like cockroaches; hackers adapt and improve their ability to persevere against the obstacles, lurking in the shadows. The results of someone gaining access to your email account can be devastating.  Often accounts are used to send out mass emails and get the account temporarily shut down, or even blacklisted. 

Victims of email hacking can also lose access to their accounts completely, including their contact lists and calendars.  Depending on the ambition of the hacker, it can be near impossible to recover access if the hacker changes the recovery emails, not to mention that any emails stored or delivered are accessible to the hacker – like emails from other accounts – like your bank.

Is YOUR email account safe?

If you’re not sure, take our nifty email password security quiz.

  1. Is your email password a ‘non-word’ pass code?  Meaning, it can’t be found in the dictionary.
  2. Does it contain special characters and/or numbers?
  3. Does it have a mix of both upper and lower case letters?
  4. Is it a minimum of 8 to 10 characters?
  5. Is it truly random numbers or letters?  Meaning, it’s not your birth date, social security number, phone number, or postal code?
  6. Is it a unique password just for that account?
  7. Is each account updated with new passwords on a regular basis?
  8. Do you regularly update and run security tools like antivirus and malware detection tools?
  9. Do you practice safe internet and Wi-Fi use and are conscientious of phishing scams asking you to log on to bogus sites or provide your password?

If you answered ‘YES’ to these questions, you get a ‘gold star’ from all of us here at Zee.  You’ve taken the measures to insulate yourself from potential threats of account hacking.  Good job!

If you answered ‘NO’ to any of them, we strongly recommend logging into your email to ensure you have full access and update your account with a safe, secure, and unique password… Unless you like cockroaches.

Be sure to take our recommendation and update and change your password often using the guidelines above.  Be your own watch dog and maintain good practices to ensure your email account stays safe and secure.  If you have any questions, please contact us online or call at 406-259-6730.