You are logging in to your email account, but it’s asking you to enter your password again. Should be easy enough, as you use the same password for everything — typing it in is muscle memory now. But it doesn’t work. You try again, with the same worrying results. You reset the password and have to confirm it through a secondary email. In a panic, you realize you’re locked out of that one too.
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Make a list of all your online accounts and imagine they’re all secured with the same password. If a hacker figures out your password and breaks through, your entire network is compromised.
This is the reality of reusing the same password for all your online accounts. This guide will help you never make that mistake again.
What are the dangers of reusing the same password?
First, we need to understand why password reuse is so common. The reason is simple — it’s just easier. With the modern need to create multiple online accounts, the number of unique passwords the average user has to remember verges on double digits.
Should you use the same password for every account? The answer is always no. Despite warnings from cybersec experts, statistics prove that password reuse is still prevalent. A 2019 Google poll of password reuse statistics revealed that 52% of US citizens use the same password across different accounts, and 13% use the same password for all accounts. Alongside those alarming numbers, 41% of Americans think it’s impossible to remember different passwords for all their accounts.
With such statistics, it’s hardly surprising that password reuse is still rampant. But the convenience of password reuse does not outweigh the risks it poses.
If a hacker were to brute-force their way into one of your shopping accounts by repeatedly trying different combinations until they gain access, they will most certainly try to use that password with the rest of your accounts. Your bank account, emails (personal and work), home network – they’re all at the mercy of the hacker because you reuse the same password for everything.
How do I get out of the habit of reusing the same password?
It’s hard to break a habit of convenience. How can you be expected to remember complex passwords for all your online activities? Writing them all down in a notebook is asking for trouble, and reusing the same password but with minor modifications isn’t the wisest choice either.
So where do you start when creating a secure password? First, you should never utilize personal information as a password. Your date of birth or that of your loved ones, old addresses, or even old schools are the first things a hacker will try.
Luckily, with a password manager like NordPass, all the stress of creating and remembering your passwords is a thing of the past. Here’s how it can help:
Automatically create high-strength passwords. The perfect password should be a jumble of letters, numbers, and symbols — something completely illogical that no hacker could guess. NordPass does this for you with its Password Generator. Or you can create your own password, and NordPass will assess its strength. This feature is available both in the web and in-app versions.
No need to remember passwords. NordPass will automatically fill in your passwords, streamlining your online experience. When you log in to an online account for the first time, NordPass will prompt you to save your details automatically. The next time you visit, you can fill in all the details with a single click.
All your passwords in one secure vault. NordPass will keep your passwords locked and protected by XChaCha20 encryption – an algorithm that has been embraced by Silicon Valley tech experts. You’re the only one who has access to the vault, as NordPass has a strict no-knowledge policy.
Completely free. All you have to do is sign up — no credit card needed. You can save an unlimited amount of passwords, keep sensitive notes and information, and synchronize across different devices.
Only 24% of people use a password manager. Get ahead of the curve and subscribe to NordPass today.