Your password should not be simple, though. In fact, it should not be a password, but instead a longer passphrase that you can remember. Nowadays, most passwords require 12 characters, including at least one number, one capitalized letter, and one special character, anyway. For example, you could take something like “Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles (1967) and turn it into “StrawFields4ever!” or make it even less recognizable (i.e. “sf4ever1967TB”). Don’t use any phrasing that can be directly associated with you, or that you have used often. You should have a different password for just about every account. You can cater each phrase to the account it’s being used for (i.e. Google = #1BiggestSearch, but less obvious). If that doesn’t seem feasible, use a password manager. Anytime someone gets access to your data with one password, it could lead to more trouble on your other accounts. Do not tell anyone your passwords or passphrases. That may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people openly share their information, especially if they use a single password for everything. Apple’s new privacy techniques obscure your data by providing random basic identification markers (not your actual ID) when required. The company makes it difficult for trackers to piece together your info, and it avoids connecting your ID to your activity. Apple is trying to set high standards, but not every company will be able to keep up, so it’s important to go through your major accounts’ specific needs. For each of your most-used profiles (like Facebook or Google), you’ll want to go through each privacy setting available to ensure you have the security you desire. Making your accounts private or only visible to friends will greatly reduce basic random hacking and phishing attempts. Make a plan to revisit privacy settings on these major accounts every few months. Most major internet service providers come with basic anti-virus and anti-malware software for free, but you can also buy security software and services such as Norton or Bitdefender. Beyond that, there are many different ways you can follow advice from tech-experts, hackers themselves, and other privacy experts—keep up with the latest updates and articles on digital privacy, and you’ll have a head start when there’s a privacy breach or fresh concern.
