On World Password Day, take this one simple step to manage all your passwords

Do you reuse passwords or are you guilty of using common passwords like password or 123456? Not only can that make your account an easier target for hackers, but it can also put your important information or the University’s information at risk.

On this World Password Day, University of Kentucky Information Technology Services (UK ITS) wants students, faculty and staff to take a few simple steps to practice good password habits.

1. Use a password manager. The easiest and most secure way to create and store passwords is by using a password manager. This requires you to create one unique and strong master password and the password manager does the rest. It’s more secure to use a password manager than to not use one.
2. Never reuse passwords. If one of your accounts becomes compromised, it puts the rest of your accounts at risk.
3. Change your passwords. Doing this every few months helps keep your accounts secure. When using a password manager, it’s easy to generate a new, strong password with a few clicks.
4. Never share your password. It’s never a good idea to email or text your password — even if you need to share it with someone you trust. The most secure way to share passwords for accounts with more than one user is to create a separate account by using a password manager.

According to Norton, approximately 24 billion passwords were compromised in 2022. Additionally, most breaches, more than 80%, occur because of reused, weak and stolen passwords.

It only takes a few minutes to sign up for a password manager. This one simple step helps keep you in charge of your accounts and is one of the best cybersecurity habits you can practice.

For more cybersecurity tips, visit CyberSafeCats and check out the new Cyber Confessions series. To learn more about UK ITS projects, tech tips and alerts, sign up for our newsletters here. Follow UK ITS on social media.