Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers is reminding residents of the risks of reusing the same password across multiple online accounts, warning the practice leaves people vulnerable to financial loss and identity theft.
From email and online banking to shopping, streaming services and social media, most people maintain dozens of online accounts, and using the same password for all of them creates one of the biggest cybersecurity risks people face.
“We know that there are many online services people are using these days including email, Amazon, streaming services, banking, and much more. Having a common password that is used across all of these platforms is a huge security risk and opens people having money or even their identity stolen,” said Erica McIntosh, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “It might be frustrating to have to use different passwords and two-factor authentication, but it significantly reduces the risk of loss.”
If a criminal gains access to one account, they will often try that same username and password on other popular websites, which can quickly lead to compromised bank accounts, stolen personal information and identity theft.
Residents are encouraged to create a unique, strong password for every important account and to enable two-factor authentication whenever it is available. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second verification step, such as a code sent to a phone or generated through an authentication app.
Crime Stoppers suggests using a reputable password manager to securely store passwords, or keeping a written record in a safe, secure location at home, and never taping passwords to a computer or leaving them where others can access them.
