Strong Passwords Are Key To Data Privacy

The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) promoted National Data Privacy Day on Saturday, Jan. 28, by encouraging Kentuckians to create strong online passwords to keep their personal information secure.

Data Privacy Day is an international effort led by The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal information. According to NCSA, weak or stolen credentials, including passwords, are a leading cause of online data breaches.

“Creating stronger passwords is an important first step in safeguarding your financial and personal data,” said DFI Deputy Commissioner Brian Raley. “You can improve your passwords by changing them often and creating unique login credentials that cannot be predicted by cyber criminals.”

DFI recommends the following best practices for creating strong, secure passwords:

• Do not use the same password for each account.
• Make your password unpredictable by including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Passwords should be 8 to 12 characters in length.
• Do not use a common date, name, or word in your password.
• Change your password every 3 to 4 months to provide added protection.
• Do not use the “remember passwords” setting on your devices or accounts.

If you experience a personal data breach, you should notify your bank and credit agencies and immediately change your passwords.

DFI provides online data privacy resources at http://kfi.ky.gov/.

For more information about Data Privacy Day, visit https://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/about.