How often should you change your password?

Passwords are often the first and sometimes only line of defense protecting users from cyberattacks. Unfortunately, even strong passwords aren't foolproof. That's why experts always recommend enhancing security by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) and setting up additional passcodes.

Many people still believe that changing passwords frequently will make their accounts more secure. However, according to experts, this is a misconception. Dr. Jennifer Golbeck, a computer scientist and associate professor at the University of Maryland (USA), says that the habit of constantly changing passwords can be counterproductive. The reason is that users often only change a few small characters, such as adding numbers or letters, while keeping the majority of the password the same, making it easier to guess.

So, how often should you change your password? There's no single fixed timeframe. The answer depends on several factors, such as whether you've ever experienced a data breach, how strong your password is, and whether you're using a password manager.

However, according to Dr. Golbeck, the most effective way to protect your account is still to create a strong, unique password for each account and only change it when there are signs that the account may have been compromised.

When should you change your password?

Many people have a habit of changing their passwords periodically, for example, every month or every quarter. However, according to cybersecurity experts like Lorrie Cranor, this practice is no longer recommended. Instead, it's more important to know when it's truly necessary to change your password and act as soon as possible.

One of the most obvious instances is when you receive a notification from a website about a data leak. If your account is on the list of affected accounts, updating your password immediately is mandatory.

Similarly, if you notice unusual activity such as strange login activity, "new device logged in" notifications that you don't recognize, or password reset emails that you didn't send, it could be a sign that your account is being targeted by a malicious actor.

Even small changes to your settings that you don't remember making can be suspicious. While it might just be a false alarm, changing your password immediately is still the safest and wisest option.

Additionally, you should change your password after sharing login information with others, even just once. Cybersecurity experts warn that even short-term sharing can increase the risk of data leaks, especially for sensitive accounts like email, banking, or social media. In any case, it's best not to share your password in the first place, and if you have already shared it, change it as soon as possible.

Finally, don't wait until your account is compromised to think about protecting it. Proactively replace weak passwords with strong, unique, and hard-to-guess passwords. Using a password manager is also a simple and effective way to protect yourself against mass attacks across multiple accounts.

Experts suggest ways to create strong yet easy-to-remember passwords.

How can you create a password that is both strong and easy to remember? According to security experts, the secret lies in striking a balance between complexity and memorability.

Instead of using random, hard-to-remember character strings, you should use long, meaningful passphrases. This type of password is not only harder to crack but also much easier to remember.

You should aim to create passwords between 12 and 16 characters long, flexibly combining letters, numbers, and special characters. Most importantly, avoid using personal information such as your name, date of birth, or phone number – data that hackers can easily find. And absolutely do not use the same password for multiple accounts, because if just one account is compromised, your entire digital ecosystem could be at risk.

However, no matter how strong it is, a password alone is not enough to protect you from today's sophisticated threats. Therefore, experts always recommend enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), such as a verification code sent to your phone or fingerprint scanning.

According to Richard Meeus from the US security firm Akamai, this additional layer of protection will make it much harder for hackers to attack, even if they have obtained your password.

The remaining problem is how to remember dozens of long and complex passwords? The answer is to use a password manager. These tools not only help you create strong passwords but also store them securely with high encryption.

However, for important accounts like email, banking, or social media, you should still enable multi-factor authentication, even if you have a password manager.

In short, strong passwords are the first line of defense, but smart security habits are the key to staying safe in the digital world.