Many people like to start the new year with resolutions on what they'd like to accomplish over the course of the year. While there's an endless number of resolutions to pick, one resolution everyone should stick to in 2020 and beyond is creating stronger passwords. Although news of cybercriminals hacking individuals and major corporations are fairly mainstream, poor password hygiene continues to be an issue. And as cyberattacks increase in sophistication and scope, stronger passwords that are harder to crack will continue to be a necessity. While nearly everyone can improve their password hygiene, Dashlane's fourth annual list of the "Worst Password Offenders" highlighted high-profile individuals and organizations that made the most egregious password-related blunders in 2019. |

Evergreen password tips

Keeping up with New Year's resolutions can be hard as time goes on, but making sure a password is strong and secure is a must in 2020 and beyond. Here are a few suggestions from Dashlane to avoid making the same mistake that the worst password offenders made in 2019. |

  • Use different passwords for every account: Reusing the same password across your accounts is a lot like putting all your eggs in one basket: if a cybercriminal gets a hold of one, they essentially have them all. Hackers can use passwords from compromised accounts to easily access other accounts. The only protection against this is to have a different password for every account.
  • Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of security by verifying your identity using two of three possible identifiers: something you know (your password, PIN number), something you are (via facial recognition, your fingerprints) or something you have (a smart card, your smartphone). Most apps or websites will verify you via an email or a text message sent to your phone.
  • Get a password manager: A password manager is an ideal way to safely and conveniently manage complicated and unique passwords for an unlimited number of accounts while providing automatic logins and secure autofill of personal and payment information.

With this in mind, explore our slideshow above on Dashlane's worst password offenders in 2019. Related: |