You may think your password will never be hacked, but how sure are you? Do you use a password such as your date of birth, phone number, street address or initials? You may be in for a surprise as hacking passwords has become easier to obtain.

It’s important to have a password that is at least 6 characters long, but we recommend 8.

Here are some simple rules to follow when creating a new password or changing an old one.

* Must have at least one special character ($!#%)
* Must have at least one upper case character
* Must have at least one number in the password

By following these basic 3 rules you will have a much stronger password which will make it more difficult for anyone to guess your password.

Don’t leave your passwords lying around. Lock them up in a safe box, file cabinet, or other secure storage device. You can even maintain them in an encrypted (password-protected) file on your computer. But don’t write them on a sticky note and hide it in your desk or drawer.

Never give your password out in an email. Likewise, if you forget your password and have to request it be sent to you via email, change your password as soon as you receive it.

Don’t use the default password assigned to you unless it’s a hard requirement. Some ISPs, for example, pre-configure the account with a username and password combination. You might not be able to change the username, but you definitely should be able to change the password.