As we store an ever increasing amount of financial, health and other sensitive personal information online, protecting online personal information is even more important — particularly given the reality of data breaches and hackers. Diligent password management is critical, but something about which most people don't give a passing thought. Most people create passwords that are easy to remember and then re-use it across a multitude of sites and accounts. However, if just one site suffers a breach or a clever hacker guesses a user's password, this information could allow the cyber-criminal access to one's bank accounts, investment accounts, email accounts, loan accounts, dating sites, etc.

"Experts" might disagree on password best practices; however, inaction is not an option. Make time to do some digital housekeeping. Here are some thoughts to consider:

1. Create strong passwords that are long and complex — particularly for sites where you store the most sensitive information. 
2. Consider using a nonsensical combination of characters (1TiC!AZ#$%) or a one-sentence summary of strange life events (ThedogAtetheCoTToncandyonMay1st$). 
3. Use numbers, random capitalization and special characters in all passwords. 
4. Create a different password for each account and site.
5. Regularly change your password. 
6. Never use your name, email address, home address or social security number as a password.
7. Do not give your password to someone you don't know — it is highly unlikely that a site or business will ask you for your password — rather, they will ask you to change your password.
8. Consider using a password manager (such as LastPass or 1Password), which creates strong random passwords and syncs them securely across your browsers and devices. 
9. If available, always enable a site's additional security features such as two-factor authentication.