Making passwords more secure

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - You hear about it all the time -- hackers gaining access to personal banking accounts, credit card accounts or worse by finding your password.

It happened as recently as last weekend, when a rogue app developer hacked into Apple's iTunes store , fraudulently charging about 400 users with purchases they didn't make. But there is a way to make your passwords more secure against hackers.

James Gentry, of Altamonte Springs-based Atlantic Data Team , says its because people are choosing the wrong passwords.

Unfortunately, most people just go too short and too easy, so its easy for them to remember, but it also makes it easy for them to guess.

His best advice boils down to several simple rules. First, never use the word password in your password. Second, avoid consecutive numeric strings, like 1-2-3-4. Third, don't use your own name, or even your children's names, in your password.

And fourth, use a different password for each site. That way, if a hacker manages to bust into one of your accounts, the rest wont be compromised.

Gentry says, What you really wanna see is a combination of letters, numbers and the extended characters.

The great news is, everyone has this under their control.

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Additional information:

Safer Passwords
James Gentry, Atlantic Data Team
www.AtlanticDataTeam.com
407-830-5993