Farmgear operates a secure password policy and all passwords that connect to any of our systems must be rated ‘Strong’.
We appreciate that some people may feel that a secure password policy is overkill, in general preferring something easy to remember. And will even use the same password for multiple websites and/or software they use. Often people will think that “no one will be interested in hacking into my accounts”.
Remember though, it is not only individual people we are protecting our logins from, but sophisticated and automated hacker bots.
How to Create a Strong Password
Creating a very strong password is crucial for protecting your accounts and personal information from unauthorized access. Here are detailed instructions on how to create a strong password:
Length
- Use at least 12-16 characters: The longer your password, the more secure it will be. Aim for a minimum of 12 characters, but 16 or more is much better.
Complexity
- Use a total mixture of character types: including at least one of all the following; uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters such as, !, @, ?, *, % etc.
Avoid Common Patterns
- Do not use common words or phrases: Avoid using common words, phrases, or easily guessable information like “password,” “123456,” or your name.
- Do not use repeated characters: Avoid using the same character multiple times in a row for example, “aaa” or “111”.
- Do not use sequential patterns: Do not use sequential characters such as, “abcd,” “1234”.
Use Unpredictable Combinations
- Use a random mix: Combine the different character types in an unpredictable order. This makes the password harder to guess.
- Passphrases: Consider using a passphrase, which is a series of random words strung together, with added complexity. For example, “BlueCat!42Tree$Dance”. But do not use words that could make sense to anyone else.
Avoid Personal Information
- No personal info: Do not use easily accessible information such as your birthdate, family members’ names, or favourite sports teams.
- The above items are easily found on social media.
Use a Password Manager
- Password manager: Consider using a password manager* to generate and store complex passwords. This means you do not have to remember each password and can maintain high security.
- Use a password generator: There are plenty of password generators* online you can use for free. and for additional security you can add a few of your own characters to the result. Or change one or two of them if the password length is restricted.
Regular Updates
- Change regularly: Where possible, update your passwords regularly and never reuse old passwords.
- Unique Passwords: Use unique passwords for each of your online accounts to prevent a breach on one account from compromising others.
Example of a Strong Password
- Here is an example of a strong password: G*9kD#bX2L!4zW&7
Additional Tips
- Test your password: Use online tools like password strength meters* to check the strength of your password.
- Avoid writing down: Do not write your passwords on a paper note and then stick it somewhere obvious.
- Do not store them in an unsecure digital file: such as spreadsheet that is not at least password protected itself.
* Online Password Tools
Password managers https://www.techradar.com/best/password-manager
Password generators https://www.techradar.com/best/password-generator
Password strength meter https://www2.open.ac.uk/openlearn/password_check
This secure password policy is in place to protect both our organisation’s data and the personal information of any of our website and mobile app users. The following will also apply:
- If a Farmgear member chooses to change any passwords that have been issued to them by us, then they must agree to make sure they use secure passwords and not ones that will be easy to guess by hacker bots
- It will also be the Farmgear member’s responsibility to keep the usernames and passwords private, safe and secure
- The Farmgear member must not share passwords with or disclose them to any third party
- If the Farmgear member needs to issue any personnel with passwords, make sure they also know and understand the security risks of not safeguarding them
- If you believe your Farmgear account password has been compromised please contact us immediately
Secure Password Policy Resources
You can read more about the importance of secure passwords on The National Cyber Security Centre website.
