By Evan Carmen

I imagine many people act as tech support for someone in their life. For years, I used to help my grandfathers with their computers. When my grandfather moved from Boston to New York, I backed up his files in the cloud, just in case something happened during the move. I was happy to help, plus it’s good practice to backup files.

My other grandfather lived in Florida and was originally from New York. He used the computer to keep up to date with current events and follow the New York sports teams, particularly the Giants. When Giant games were not on national television, he would sit at the computer and follow along through Gamecast. He was an enormous Giants fan and the ability to follow along was a big deal. Not to mention all the additional Giants articles he was able to read online.  

One time, I remember showing him something on the computer, when I noticed a list of passwords underneath the keyboard.  This list included passwords for his email, banking and investment accounts. You could access their life savings with these passwords. Clearly not something you would want in the wrong hands. So, I asked him, “How long has it been since they passwords were updated.” While my grandfather couldn’t remember, the phrase “years” was used in the sentence.  At that point, I knew what the next hour would hold for me. It was time to update the passwords.

While it took time, I updated all my grandfather’s passwords. I explained that while my sister and I were flattered he used our names for passwords, they were easily guessed and he should go with something not predictable. At the end, all the passwords were changed, and the password list was stored more securely.

Something tells me my experience with my grandfather is similar to other people’s. Older adults are using the internet in greater numbers for a variety of activities through smart phones and computers. Seniors bank, email, monitor and coordinate financial investments, and do other business online.  Moving one’s activities online is a good thing, however it requires a level of attention to password security.  

Ensuring passwords are unique and kept secure is important. When creating passwords for the internet it’s good to keep a few things in mind:

1. Never use the same password for multiple accounts. If a hacker gets your password, you don’t want that person to have easier access to several of your accounts.
2. Approve multi-factor authentication, which provides an extra level of protection for your accounts. I can’t tell you how many times I sign into an account and get emailed or texted a code I subsequently need to enter. While it’s an extra step, making your account more secure, is well worth the small hassle.
3. Passwords should be 12 characters or more. You don’t want a short password because that will make it easier to steal. Also, it’s a smart practice that your password includes a mixture of uppercase and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols.
4. Ensure passwords are not easily recognizable. Using “password123abc” is not a good idea. Neither is naming your passwords after your family members. These are the type of passwords which can get easily stolen. Going with something more unique that only you would know, ensures a greater level of security.
5. Use an online password manager to keep track of your passwords for your various accounts. If that’s not feasible, and you must write it down, put your passwords somewhere secure in your home where someone is not likely to find the document.
6. Generally, it’s a good idea to change your password once a year.

The internet has made life easier, which can’t be denied. However, with new flexibility comes a greater level of security. Unfortunately, bad actors are only getting smarter, and everyone must up their internet security game, including password safety. Doing a few simple practices can put people in a better position to ensure the security of their most sensitive online information.