Although data breaches are a mainstay in the news, users still practice poor password habits. While not the lone factor in account compromisation, these bad tendencies leave users vulnerable. So, what are the best ways to secure your online accounts? Here’s a rundown.

1. Complexity is Key
Far too often, users ignore prompts to choose complex passwords. That’s how ‘123456’, ‘qwerty’, ‘111111’, ‘password’, and ‘987654321’ came to be some of the most commonly used passwords in the world.

All passwords, regardless of the platform’s requirements, should contain a steady mix of uppercase, lowercase, special characters, and numbers. An extremely random sequence such as ‘3DaS;FJBp!FiLNeqF@#57’ is ideal. To come up with your own complex password, use the IPVanish Password Generator.

2. There’s Strength in Numbers
So, having a complex password is a must, but a complex password is only strong if it is unique. Using the same password for all of your accounts is reckless. Every account you create should use a different password.

On the off chance that one of your accounts is compromised, using the same password for everything will give a hacker access to all of your accounts. And depending on the type of accounts you have, that could mean identity theft and banking fraud.

3. Two-Factor is the X Factor
Many logins simply require a username and password; enter those two fields, and you’re in. This is called one-factor authentication, and the single factor is your password. But when possible, you should enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

Two-factor authentication requires an additional piece of information to login. The second factor could be a variety of things, including a fingerprint or SMS verification code. When enabled, two factor authentication can prevent account compromisation, even if a hacker acquires your password.

4. Password Managers Are Crucial
2FA is important, and coming up with a diverse set of strong passwords is mandatory, but it’s a lot to keep track of. The average person cannot memorize dozens of lengthy, random passwords. That’s where password managers come into play.
%3C/a""> ">Passwords managers keep hold of all your account passwords and protect them with encryption. This keep everything organized in one secure, central location, but keep it accessible wherever you’ll need. Plus, many password managers allow for two-factor authentication.

5. Never Share Your Passwords
Your passwords should never end up in someone else’s hands. That principle includes sharing media streaming accounts with friends. Even if they’re trustworthy and you believe they won’t give your credentials to someone else, they can still fail you.

This is because not all web users practice sound password habits. Even if they have your best interest in mind, your friends could accidentally expose your credentials to hackers. A hacked Hulu account isn’t a big deal itself, but if you’re practicing other password security faux pas, it could translate to a major loss you can’t afford.

But while you shouldn’t share your passwords with your friends, you should pass along these five tips. Last year, identity theft was at an all-time high, and poor password hygiene certainly played a part.

Locking down your logins is vital, but it’s only one piece of the privacy puzzle. To protect your online activity
, you need to encrypt your internet connection. Thankfully, encryption is easily accessible with a VPN