During the holiday season, most of us shop online more often because of the convenience that it offers. From finding the perfect gifts to scoring the best deals, online shopping offers ease and excitement like never before. Whether you are creating new rewards accounts for those exclusive holiday discounts or logging into your favorite e-commerce platform, one thing remains constant – the need for safe password practices. Continue reading to discover the best password practices for a secure holiday shopping experience. 

Create Strong And Unique Passwords  

One of the most important steps when ensuring a secure holiday shopping experience is creating strong and unique passwords. The five tips below will help you get started. 

  1. Create your password with a combination of upper and lower-case letters, symbols, and numbers.  

  1. Try to make your password about 12-16 characters long.  

  1. Avoid using common phrases such as “1234” or “password”. 

  1. Do not use easily discoverable information such as your name or birthdate.  

  1. Try using a passphrase that is difficult to guess, but easy for you to remember.  

Create New Passwords For Each Account  

It is crucial to create a new password using the tips above for each account that you create. Using the same password for multiple accounts makes it easier for cybercriminals to gain access to your other accounts. If there is a security breach on one of your accounts, your other accounts have a greater chance of being safe if each one has its own password. To protect your information even further, change your passwords periodically, but make sure that you can remember all of them.  

Utilize A Password Manager  

Managing a plethora of unique and complex passwords for your online shopping accounts can be a daunting task. Using a password manager can help you easily keep track of all your passwords. With a password manager, you will need to remember one master password that will give you access to the rest you have created. Many password managers have helpful features like strength assessments, security alerts, and reminders to change them. A password manager is an extremely valuable tool that can help add convenience and security to your online shopping experience this holiday season.  

Use Two-Factor Authentication  

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a great way to enhance your security as you shop. This authentication process requires you to provide your password, along with an extra layer of security. Usually this is a code or push notification sent to your smartphone. Many online retailers now offer 2FA as an option during the login process, and it's highly recommended to enable it whenever available. 

Online shopping is a fun and convenient way to purchase gifts during the holidays, but it is essential to prioritize security. Creating strong and unique passwords for each account, utilizing a password manager, and enabling two-factor authentication are practices that will help protect your personal and financial information. At Sun Canyon Bank, we offer many products that can help make your online shopping adventures secure and convenient. Please visit our website to find out more information about how we can help make purchasing easier than ever before.