In a rapidly evolving landscape of technology and security, hackers are becoming increasingly adept at stealing personal information. Renowned cybersecurity expert Ben Jones has turned to TikTok to share crucial advice on safeguarding passwords, shedding light on a concerning trend among tech users.
“Your supposedly ‘secure’ password could be cracked within seconds!” Ben warned. He emphasized the vulnerability of passwords under eight characters containing only numbers, making individuals susceptible to cyber-attacks. Ben stressed that including symbols and letters in passwords significantly raises the difficulty for hackers, deterring brute-force attacks that could take years.
Ben advocates for using pass-phrases instead of traditional passwords for enhanced security. He recommends creating combinations like ‘dogflyingwindow25!’ to fortify online defenses.
Moreover, Ben strongly supports multi-factor authentication but cautions against using phones for this purpose. He suggests utilizing authenticator apps like Microsoft Authenticator and avoiding storing passwords on platforms like Google, opting instead for secure services like 1Password.
Sharing his top five data protection tips, Ben advises against clicking on email links, recommending manual entry into browsers to avoid potentially malicious sites. He reiterates the importance of multi-factor authentication, citing instances of friends being hacked on Instagram due to password breaches.
Regarding public Wi-Fi usage, Ben advises employing a VPN alongside to encrypt browsing data, highlighting the effectiveness of tools like ExpressVPN in enhancing privacy and security.
On the topic of passwords, Ben stresses the necessity of creating complex passwords with a minimum of 12 characters, incorporating a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. He also emphasizes the significance of limiting personal information sharing to prevent exploitation by hackers.
Responding to a TikTok user’s security concerns, Ben underscores the importance of two-factor authentication and maintaining robust passwords as initial steps towards safeguarding digital accounts.
