October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Regions is taking the whole month to educate associates and customers on simple, practical ways to stay safe online. First up: passwords.
Why Passwords Matter
Threat actors are often after one thing – your credentials (meaning your user ID and password).
Whether it’s your mobile banking app, your email account, or even your Netflix account, weak or re-used passwords can open the door to serious trouble.
We recommend these 7 tips for leveling up your password game:
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- Make it long – Aim for at least 16 characters where possible.
- Make it unique – Never reuse passwords across accounts.
- Make it complex – Use a mix of letters, numbers and symbols where possible.
- Use a passphrase – Try combining unrelated words.
- Avoid the obvious – No birthdays, anniversaries, pet or kid’s names, or even “RollTide” or “WarEagle.”
- Don’t write it down – Never share your password with anyone. Regions (and most companies) will never ask you for your password.
- Use multi-factor authentication and/or biometrics when available.
Keep this in mind: the National Cybersecurity Alliance has some great tips on how to create safer passwords.
And while strong, unique passwords are still essential for protecting your accounts, managing them has become a frustrating chore for many. With dozens of logins to remember, it’s no wonder people turn to risky shortcuts or duplicate passwords across accounts. Fortunately, there’s a better way. Passkeys offer a seamless, secure alternative.
Want a more modern way to deal with logins – no typing, no forgetting, no drama? Check out Passkeys: because remembering 37 different passwords is a skill no one asked for.
Josh Campbell, Cyber Security Group Manager
Cybersecurity starts with strong passwords, and during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Regions is committed to helping you take simple steps to protect your digital life.
By following these seven tips and embracing tools like multi-factor authentication and Passkey, you can make it much harder for threat actors to gain access to your accounts.
Stay tuned throughout October as we continue sharing practical ways to stay safe online.
