Editor's note: Below is an updated version of our blog post designed to address questions customers had after the email that accompanied this message. Added sections are italicized below.
With the recent report of 1.2 billion compromised username and password combinations, believed to be the largest ever hack of private Internet information, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind all of our customers of some password best practices. The following is intended to be an informative look at email best practices. We strive to enable our customers to be as secure as they possibly can in their Internet use.
It’s important to immediately change your password – not just for your Hostway account, but also for any accounts you use that involve personal or financial data. Your Hostway account password is no more vulnerable than any other password you use on any other site. We're simply alerting our customers to news that concerns all Internet users: The volume of passwords and accounts that are no longer secure creates a reasonable likelihood that one or more of your accounts – across all means of Internet-based services – is no longer secure, and that action should be taken to ensure the security of your personal and financial information. Make unique passwords for each of these sites, so that anyone gaining access to one of your accounts doesn’t easily gain access to more. The email account you use for password recovery is especially crucial to maintaining your digital security.
A strong password has the following characteristics:
- Eight characters or more
- Both uppercase and lowercase letters
- Numbers and special characters
- No proper names or personal information
With these tips, you'll be well on your way to a safer online existence.