Cybersecurity expert Ben Jones has shared important password advice, explaining that one common format amongst tech users poses a serious hacking risk. He shared his advice in a new online clip
Whilst technology and security are advancing rapidly, so too are the capabilities of hackers, who are keeping pace, eager to snatch your personal details. In light of this, cybersecurity expert Ben Jones has stepped up with vital tips about password protection. In a TikTok clip, he disclosed how to bolster the security of your accounts, following a startling statistic about a common password pattern among tech users.
“Your ‘secure’ password could be cracked in SECONDS!” Ben cautioned. “Most people don’t realize how vulnerable they are until it’s too late.” Ben highlighted that passwords under eight characters, consisting solely of numbers, leave you “screwed” He elaborated: “This means that it could be hacked instantly, whereas if you’ve got other characters including symbols and letters it takes years and years for a hacker to do a brute-force attack.”
As such, he recommends opting for a pass-phrase over a password. “This is three random words that are put together to create a phrase, for example ‘dogflyingwindow25!’ – that’s going to help keep your data safe,” he suggested.
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Furthermore, Ben always endorses multi-factor authentication. “Maybe don’t do this through your phone,” he remarked. “If you can, do it through an authenticator app like Microsoft Authenticator – and if you’re storing passwords, don’t do that on Google, do it on something like 1Password,” Ben advised.
Ben then laid out five key strategies to keep your personal info secure, kicking off with email protocol: “You shouldn’t click on links in your emails,” he warned. “Instead, type it in your browser as clicking it could take you to a dodgy website.”
He then touched on the significance of multi-factor authentication once more, reporting that some of his friends had their Instagram accounts compromised recently. “If someone guesses your password, they can then enable multi-factor authentication themselves, preventing you from ever getting back in,” he alerted.
In third place of Ben’s cybersecurity tips was to use a VPN when connected to public Wi-Fi. “If you’re using this, always use a VPN alongside it to encrypt the information that you are searching,” he recommended, mentioning ExpressVPN as a helpful tool.
Returning to password best practices, Ben underscored the need for complex, lengthy passwords. He advocated for a mix of at least 12 characters including letters, numbers, and symbols.
For his final piece of advice, Ben urged caution with personal details. “Just make sure you’re not sharing your address or anything like that, because again, that is what hackers can use to gain your information.”
Writing in reponse, one TikTok user informed Ben: “Right so: I had a transaction taken out from my account of £11 [$15] (wasn’t me) changed my card details and since then got two scam text messages. Thanks for the info.”
To which he advised: “Two factor authentication is a great first step and always make sure you have a strong password.”
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