![How to Prevent Your Passwords From Getting Hacked](https://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2022/03/attachment-hacked.jpg?w=980&q=75)
How to Prevent Your Passwords From Getting Hacked
Passwords. We seeming have one for nearly everything these days. Your computer login, email, streaming services, unlocking your phone, online banking, paying bills. Doing all of those things online takes a password. Some of you out there reading this now aren't using secure enough passwords. Yes, I'm talking to you Mr. 'my passcode is 1,2,3,4'. But there are also many of you out there who believe you are being secure enough, and you actually aren't.
Hive Systems, a cyber security firm, recently did a study on how long it would take a hacker to crack any password. They found that there are four things that affect how secure your password ends up being.
- How long is it?
- Are the letters uppercase AND lowercase?
- Are there numbers?
- Are there special characters, such as an exclamation point?
Taking those four factors into account, here is what the study found. Any password that is six characters or less can be cracked immediately. If your password is all lowercase letters, anything less than nine letters can be cracked right away. A password gets much more secure after 14 characters, and DO NOT use all numbers.
If you use uppercase and lowercase letters, your password still needs to be 12 characters to be somewhat secure. At ten characters, your password can be cracked in 3 days. 11 characters takes 5 months. 12 characters could take up to 24 years to crack. Even by adding special characters and numbers, make sure your password is longer than 11 characters.
If you want to be REALLY safe, the study suggests going even longer. A password that is 18 characters long and includes all the things we've mentioned, would take 438 trillion years to crack. I think you're safe.
CHECK IT OUT: How To Unlock Your iPhone With Your Voice
READ MORE: See 50 remote jobs that can pay well
More From KRFO-AM
![Largest Hy-Vee Store in the United States is Now Open](http://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2023/06/attachment-Hy-Vee-interior.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Unique Minnesota Names Are Some Of The Most-Hacked Passwords](http://townsquare.media/site/719/files/2023/04/attachment-MN-Passwords.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Most Popular Dips to Eat in the Midwest During the Big Game](http://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2023/02/attachment-Untitled-design-49.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man Asked To Leave Mall Of America Because Of His T-Shirt](http://townsquare.media/site/150/files/2022/09/attachment-GettyImages-1128536.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Why Are Egg Prices So High and When Will They Drop?](http://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2023/01/attachment-HyV.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Comet To Make Once In A Lifetime Trip Past Earth This Month](http://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2023/01/attachment-comet.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Two Killed, Several Injured in 16-Vehicle Accident on I-80 in Iowa City](http://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2023/01/attachment-I80-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![US Bank Stadium To Get A Security Fence Around The Building](http://townsquare.media/site/164/files/2022/09/attachment-GettyImages-1190290222-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![A Sleep Expert’s Advice on Taking the Perfect Nap](http://townsquare.media/site/675/files/2022/03/attachment-Nap.jpg?w=980&q=75)