Now that you’ve chosen a password that’s easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess, you have to make sure not to leave it someplace for people to find. Writing it down and leaving it in your desk, next to your computer, or, worse, taped to your computer, is just making it […]

Even though Apple has made six-digit passcodes the default for iPhone users, many still prefer the four-digit option (or worse, none at all), since it makes getting into your device faster. Though it may seem trivial, those extra two digits provide a much higher level of security. With four digits, there are one thousand possible […]

From iPhones to office paper shredders, any device that can accept a security PIN should have one set up. These passcodes protect your data against theft and interception, such as in a situation in which a device were lost or stolen.

Chances are you use at least one device that runs either iOS or Android. To protect your data and identity, set up two-factor authentication so that every login attempt requires an additional credential on top of your username and password. This might be a text message code or an approval from another trusted device.

Android has never had the same reputation for security as iOS or desktop operating systems. That doesn’t mean it lacks useful protections, though. On most devices, you can first set up a PIN and then go to Security -> Settings and enable the Encrypt Phone option. Note that initial encryption can take a while and […]

Password-protected PCs, Macs, tablets and smartphones all have cutoff points at which they lock their screens, requiring re-entry of the passcode or PIN. The time frame for relocking is adjustable, but the safest option is to force anyone attempting to log in to re-enter the device password immediately. That way, you don’t have to worry […]