The password myth

Why longer is stronger

Electric cooperative members use accounts to pay bills, track energy use and receive outage alerts. Protecting those services begins with a strong password.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and a good time to reconsider password advice. For years, users were told to add capital letters, numbers and symbols. Those elements can help, but password length provides greater protection.

Computers can test billions of combinations each second. Every added character increases the number of possible guesses. That makes a long passphrase, such as several unrelated words, harder to crack than a short, complicated password. Aim for at least 15 characters and avoid song lyrics, common sayings and personal details. Use a unique password for every account.

If one company is hacked, criminals may test stolen credentials on other sites. A password manager can create and store strong passwords for you.

Turn on multi-factor authentication whenever possible. It requires a second step, such as a code sent to your phone. Passkeys, which use a fingerprint, face scan or PIN, also offer protection. Long, unique passwords paired with added security can help keep your online accounts and co-op services safe.