Today’s news sounds like last week’s news and last month’s news and next week’s news: Today, it’s about someone claiming to have — and who is offering to sell — a cache of Twitter data that contains 32 million records, including passwords. Twitter said that its systems haven’t been breached. The source says the passwords were most likely collected over time by malware-infected browsers that sent saved passwords to hackers. No matter what the cause, when you don’t manage your passwords, it’s like leaving your house’s front door open every time you leave home.

Here’s What Not to Do

We’ve said it many times. We’ve read it many places.

Don’t use the same passwords on multiple accounts
Don’t use a password that is based on your name or information that has anything to do with you
Don’t use ABC or 123
Don’t be dumb, in other words

Here is more SmallBusiness.com information on how to reduce the possibilities of your online accounts being hacked due to a stolen password

There are ways that a criminal hacker may steal a vast amount of information that you can’t control. This is extremely rare, but not without precedent. In past posts, we have shared specific steps you can take to make it impossible for someone to access your account based solely on one factor, like having your password. Here are things you can do.

How (and Why) to Use a Password Management Application

Why You Should Still Use a Password Management System, Even if You Heard One Was ‘Hacked’

What is Two-Step Verification and Why You Should Start Using Them

How to Recognize and Avoid an Attempt to Crack Your Two-Step Verification Passwords

More Tips for Actively Managing Your Passwords

Related Articles

Table Of Contents

SmallBusiness.com Guide to Business Computer and Tech Security
16
How to Recognize and Avoid an Attempt to Crack Your Two-Step Verification Passwords

As attackers evolve, there are many steps businesses and consumers can take to protect themselves.

17
How Voice Recognition Software is Being Used to Detect Cyber Criminals

(In cyber crime), the weakest link is often the human. Software developers are trying to strengthen that link.
18
How to Avoid a New Cyber Attack Attempting to Access Small Business Bank  Funds

Cyber criminals are using a new attack against hundreds of small business employees.
19
Seven Resolutions for 2016 That Will Help Protect Your Small Business Computers

Simple steps you should take to help protect your computers and data in 2016.
20
Top Ten Free Antivirus Utilities For Your Small Business | 2016

PCMag.com has released its annual list of free antivirus utilities.
21
Most Small Businesses Have No Cyber Attack Response Plan

A survey reveals 80% of small business owners say their companies do not have a cyber attack response plan.
22
If Your Business Bank Account Gets Hacked, Your Bank May Blame You

For individual customers, banks must reimburse victims of cyber-fraud. For bank accounts of businesses, even one owned by one person, the same rule doesn’t apply.
23
Why You Should Still Use a Password Manager

A breach of a password management system provides another opportunity to explain how a password management service is better than other methods.
24
Advice From Google on Avoiding Scams Directed at Small Businesses

A wide range of warnings for avoiding scams from con-artists claiming to be from Google.
25
More Tips for Actively Managing Your Passwords

More helpful tips and ideas for managing your passwords.
26
What Small Business Customers Should Know and Do About the JPMorgan Chase Cyberattack

From the bank’s SEC filing and information provided on Chase.com, this is what is currently known about the cyberattack and what the bank is recommending to its customers.
27
How Hackers Use ‘Social Engineering’ and How to Prevent It

Following the recent wave of celebrities having online accounts hacked, here is an explanation of “social engineering,” part of the method the cyber criminals likely used.
28
Ten Tips From the FCC for Improving Your Small Business Cyber Security

Ways to improve your small business cyber security from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
29
Password Protection Advice from SmallBusiness.com

Username and password protection is an ongoing requirement for small businesses. Here is a roundup of helpful advice on internet security and password management that has appeared recently on SmallBusiness.com
30
Ebay Asks 145 Million Users to Change Passwords

Ebay is asking its 145 million users to change their passwords because of a cyberattack that compromised a database containing encrypted passwords “and other non-financial data.”

31
What is Two-Step Verification and Why You Should Start Using Them

It’s incredibly easy and fast to use a two-step verification method to protect your online accounts. Here’s how they work and why you should use them.
32
How (and Why) to Use a Password Management Application

A lock on your front door doesn’t do you any good if you keep the key under the mat, just like the best security on the web won’t protect you if you have the same bad password on every site you visit.
33
How to Reduce the Odds of Being Hacked While Using Public Wifi

Getting in a solid work session at the local coffee shop may be a tempting idea, but it has its risks. Like getting your personal information stolen because you were careless on a public network.