Privacy is an important issue for Apple. But how well have you secured your iPhone, Apple ID and apps? In this article, you can read tips on how to set a strong password.
How to set a strong password
Apple emphasizes time and again that the privacy of its customers is paramount. The company makes its devices as secure as possible, which is why iOS encrypts your data, for example, so that others cannot just snoop around.
But to a large extent you determine safety and privacy yourself. You also use many services on your iPhone that Apple has nothing to say about, such as Facebook or Twitter. Is your password good enough? Below are 6 tips.
1. Make it long
A short password is easy to remember, but a long password is more secure. The longer you make it, the more difficult it will be for burglars to crack it. Make sure your password has at least 12 characters, with at least two numbers. The following applies: more is better. Don’t forget to add symbols to improve the quality of your password.
2. Use random characters
Coming up with a password that’s hard to guess doesn’t have to be tricky. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use these kinds of things in your password: names of yourself or acquaintances, phone numbers, birthdays, places, existing words, the same letter all the time, and simple keyboard patterns, such as ‘qwerty’. Reversed words are also easy to crack. Instead, use a sequence of random characters, alternating with letters, numbers and symbols.
3. Create unique passwords
It is unwise to set the same password for each service. The reason is simple: if a hacker knows one, he knows them all. Therefore, make sure that you have a completely different password per account. Are you worried about forgetting them? Then read point four.
4. Use a password manager
Because of all those complicated passwords for every website and service, it is quite a task to be able to remember them at all. Fortunately, there are solutions for this in the form of password managers. For iOS you have various apps that help you save and manage the passwords, so that you always have your login details at hand.
Some recommendations in this area are the apps 1Password and LastPass. You can also use these managers to generate passwords. You can also set how long the password should be and what characters it should consist of. A password manager always needs one ‘master password’. Also make sure that it is safe and that you can remember it.
Also read: The best password apps to secure your online profiles
Change regularly
If you really want to take it seriously with the security of your passwords, then don’t let it set strong security all at once. You could change a password once a month or once every three months, provided you use an equally strong one. Password managers have built-in functions that regularly renew the password for you. So always turn it on if the option is available.
Also read: 11 tips for more privacy and security on your iPhone
6. Use two-step verification
A strong password is an excellent first step, but for really good security you have to go the extra mile. Turn on two-step verification where you can. This means you need another code in addition to your password to log in. This code is sent to your phone and is always unique and valid once. Touch ID and Face ID are also a form of two-step verification, with which you use your fingerprint or face scan instead of your set PIN or password.
Also read: Secure your Apple ID with two-step verification in 4 steps
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