Please note that this Security Challenge functionality discussed in this post has been updated. This functionality is now part of our Security Dashboard and dark web monitoring. For updated information please visit our blog post from 8/5/2020.
Was 2019 the year you were finally going to get serious about your online security? Did you start making some changes – like signing up for LastPass – but lost motivation or ran out of time to do more? It can be hard to change old habits and stick to better choices, whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, or using stronger passwords. With the first half of the year behind us, it’s an ideal time to check in on your cybersecurity habits and resolve to keep making positive improvements through 2019 and beyond.
Of course, if you haven’t yet signed up for a password manager like LastPass, that should be first on your list! Once you’re signed up, dive into these 5 steps for keeping your security on track this year:
1. Audit your passwords.
Password managers like LastPass give you an easy way to see how strong your overall password security is. With LastPass, run the Security Challenge to receive a score that shows you how you compare to other LastPass users. You’ll also see a breakdown of the duplicate, compromised, old, and weak passwords you’re still using. Seeing everything summarized in one place can be motivation enough to make some changes!2. Eliminate bad passwords.
Once you have your Security Challenge results, start tackling the passwords that aren’t strong enough. Launch the site, login, and locate the account settings page where you can update the password to a new one. Use the LastPass password generator to create a long, unique password, and be sure to save the changes on the website. LastPass will also capture the new password and update it in the vault, too, so the new password is autofilled the next time you log in.3. Add protection with two-faction authentication.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Two-factor authentication is a must-have. It significantly increases the security on your accounts and reduces the likelihood someone will be able to log in, even when they’ve stolen the password. You should turn on two-factor authentication for LastPass, and turn it on for other websites like your banking, investment accounts, social media, gaming, cryptocurrency, email, video and music streaming, and more.4. Declutter your vault.
Once you’ve been using LastPass for a while, you may find you have a lot of old, unused accounts stored in your vault. Launch your vault and do a review of everything stored in there, from web logins to addresses to payment cards and other notes. If information is outdated, update it and save the changes. If it’s a website you never use anymore or that no longer exists, it’s time to delete it from your vault!5. Give your browser a clean start.
While you’re cleaning out your vault, don’t forget to clean out your browser, too. That means checking the autofill manager on your browser to see what addresses, credit cards, and logins may have been captured over the months or years. If you’ve transferred it all to your password manager, consider deleting it all from your browser. Also, clear cookies and your cache to stop websites from continuing to track your activity. Don’t forget to review all extensions and addons in use, too. Be sure to delete any extensions or addons you’re no longer using (or that you don’t remember installing!). Apply any updates that are pending so you have the latest security updates and bug fixes. These basic steps may be simple, but they’re also fundamental to good online security. If you’ve delayed making positive change this year, be sure to prioritize the above to keep improving your cyber security! Everything you've worked hard for is more than worth the time it takes to follow through on these cybersecurity resolutions.Share this post via:
