Learn How to Change Your Password

Understanding Why You Should Change Your Password Regularly

Changing your password is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your personal information. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a federal organization that monitors security threats, hackers attempt to access millions of accounts every single day. When you use the same password for months or years, you increase the risk that someone could guess it or steal it through data breaches.

Data breaches happen when hackers break into company databases and steal user information. In 2023, there were over 3,000 reported data breaches in the United States alone, affecting hundreds of millions of people. Many of these breaches exposed passwords that criminals can use to try accessing other accounts. If you haven't changed your password since a breach occurred, your account remains vulnerable.

Another reason to change your password regularly is that people who have physical access to your devices or accounts might discover your password. This could include roommates, family members, coworkers, or people who see you type your password. Changing your password removes their access.

Security experts generally recommend changing important passwords—like those for email, banking, and social media—every 60 to 90 days. For less critical accounts, every six months may be sufficient. You should also change your password right away if you suspect someone has discovered it, if you receive a security alert from the company, or if you've used it on a public computer.

Practical Takeaway: Mark your calendar to change passwords for your most important accounts every three months. Set a phone reminder so you don't forget.

Creating Strong Passwords That Are Hard to Guess

A strong password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access. Weak passwords like "123456," "password," or "qwerty" are among the most commonly used passwords in the world—which means hackers try these first. Creating a strong password means making it long, complex, and unique to each account.

The characteristics of a strong password include:

• At least 12 characters long (longer is better—16 or more characters provides stronger protection)
• A mix of uppercase letters (A-Z), lowercase letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and special characters (!@#$%^&*)
• No personal information such as your name, birthday, address, or pet's name
• No dictionary words that can be found in a standard dictionary
• No repeated characters or obvious patterns like "aaaa" or "1234"
• Unique to that specific account (not used on other websites or services)

Here are examples of weak versus strong passwords. A weak password like "John2024!" is only 9 characters and uses your name. A stronger version would be "Tr0pic@lSunset#Mango92$" which is 25 characters and combines different character types without personal information.

Many people worry that complex passwords are impossible to remember. One method is using a passphrase—a sentence made from random words. For example, "Purple-Elephant-Climbing-Mountain-82" is long, memorable, and difficult to crack. Another approach is using a password manager, which is a secure program that stores your passwords so you only need to remember one strong master password.

You should never write passwords on sticky notes, in a document on your computer, or in your phone's notes app where they can be seen or accessed. These locations are easy targets for anyone with access to your devices.

Practical Takeaway: Create a passphrase using four random words separated by numbers or symbols. Test your password's strength using a free online password checker tool.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Changing Your Password

The basic process for changing your password is similar across most websites and services, though the exact steps may vary slightly. Here is the general procedure you can follow for most accounts:

• Step 1: Log into your account using your current password. Make sure you're on the official website or app—not a fake website that looks similar.
• Step 2: Look for settings or security options. This is usually found by clicking on your profile icon, your name, or a menu button (three horizontal lines). Common labels include "Settings," "Account Settings," "Security," or "Privacy."
• Step 3: Find the password change option. It may be labeled "Change Password," "Update Password," "Password & Security," or "Sign-In and Security."
• Step 4: Enter your current password when prompted. This verification step confirms you're the account owner.
• Step 5: Enter your new password in the field provided. The website will usually show requirements your password must meet.
• Step 6: Re-enter your new password in the confirmation field. This prevents mistakes from typos.
• Step 7: Click the button to save or confirm your change. Common labels include "Save," "Update," "Change Password," or "Confirm."
• Step 8: You may be asked to confirm the change through a code sent to your email or phone. Enter this code when prompted.

After successfully changing your password, you may be signed out of the account automatically. You'll need to log back in using your new password. Some services allow you to remain signed in on trusted devices or computers, while others require you to log in again on all devices. This variation is normal.

Practical Takeaway: Before changing your password, write down the basic steps for each account you use most frequently (email, banking, social media). Reference these notes the first time you change each password.

Updating Passwords on Your Devices and Applications

When you change a password for an online account, you also need to update it in any place where you've saved that password. This includes smartphones, computers, browsers, and applications. Failing to do this can cause problems—apps may stop working or show error messages, and your devices may repeatedly prompt you to enter the correct password.

Here's how to update passwords in common places:

• Email clients and apps: If you use an email application on your phone or computer (like Outlook or Apple Mail), go to the account settings and update the saved password. The process varies by application, but generally involves finding "Account Settings" or "Email Settings."
• Web browsers: Most browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) offer to save passwords. When you change a password, the browser will ask if you want to update the saved password. Click "Update" to save the new password.
• Smartphones and tablets: Many devices have built-in password managers. On iPhone, go to Settings > Passwords to update saved passwords. On Android devices, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Security.
• Social media and messaging apps: Update passwords for each app you use. You may need to uninstall and reinstall the app, or simply go to the app's account settings.
• Subscription services: If you use the same password for services like streaming apps, shopping sites, or software subscriptions, update the password in each app's settings.

When browsers or devices ask if you want to save a password, you can say "Yes" if you're on a personal device that only you use. On shared devices or public computers, always choose "No" or "Not Now" to prevent others from accessing your accounts.

If you see an app repeatedly asking for your password after you've changed it, it means the app hasn't received the updated password. Try going to the app's settings to manually enter your new password, or reinstall the app entirely.

Practical Takeaway: After changing a password, spend 15 minutes going through your devices to update the saved password in each location. Make a checklist of apps you use regularly so you don't miss any.

Using Two-Factor Authentication for Extra Security

Two-factor authentication, often called 2FA