PLDT, Smart shares simple trick to remember strong passwords

It’s time to keep your online accounts including digital wallets and online banking platforms secure with unique passwords to keep cybercrime in check, says PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG).

“If you use the same password for all login credentials, you basically hand over access to all your accounts. It’s like giving the robber the master key to your front door, cabinets, and safe,” warned Angel Redoble, First Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer of PLDT and Smart.

Passwords are considered the first line of defense against hackers. With many of our activities such as for work, financial transactions, or personal use now online, we are challenged to remember several passwords.

To get around this problem, many use a standard password for all platforms. This practice is dangerous because it can open the floodgates to a deluge of headaches.

CSOG shares a simple trick to that can help you remember complicated passwords — using alphanumeric codes to assign each password to a specific account.

For example, if your common password is ‘W0rldPe@c3’, you can add either add a prefix or a suffix to denote which platform it is for. For Instagram, you may add ‘IG33’ as a prefix, so your password would look something like ‘IG33W0rldPe@c3’. For Google, you can add ‘GG33’ at the end – ‘W0rldPe@c3GG33’.

It’s a simple trick with a multitude of possibilities that significantly increase the security of your accounts.

CSOG also shares the following tips on creating stronger passwords and securing your online accounts.

• Key in at least 8 characters that meet at least three of the following conditions – alphanumeric, UPPER-CASE, and lower-case letters, special characters.
• Use multi-factor authentication to add another layer of protection.
• Consider password managers to help you match the password to a specific platform.
• Do not use your username as a password.
• Never recycle the last 5 passwords used.
• And more importantly, do not display, print, or copy passwords.
• And in the event that your account provider has been breached, change your password immediately.

Also read Keep passwords secure with Google Password Manager

Stopping and preventing cybercrimes are fundamental to the PLDT and Smart’s much broader program to enhance the quality of customer experience by protecting them from threats and attacks.

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