Protect your digital life by taking one important step
Bowling Green, Ky. (January 28, 2026) - At Connected Nation, we believe the passwords we use to protect our online accounts represent the front doors to our personal, professional, and financial information. You wouldn’t give a stranger the key to your home, right? You need to take the same precautions with your online “key” by keeping your passwords safe, strong, and up to date.
From bank accounts to health information, one compromised password can expose you to years of headaches, legal woes, and financial ruin. Keeping your passwords (notice the “s” there — passwords plural) unique, updated, and strong can save you from years of misery.
Because passwords are so important to online security, this Sunday (February 1) has been designated as National Change Your Password Day, a reminder to update your account credentials to help protect yourself from online threats using strong, unique passwords for each account.
Passwords should be strong
What makes a password strong? According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, longer passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters will make your passwords stronger. Avoid common information that can be easily found by hackers, such as names, dates of birth, or everyday words.
Passwords should be unique
Each of your online accounts should have its own unique password. While it may be tempting, reusing passwords can leave your accounts more vulnerable to hackers. When you reuse passwords, once hackers know how to access one of your accounts, they know how to get into ALL of them, giving them a chance to cause even more problems.
Get help where you can
Most of us have multiple online accounts. In 2024, every American had an average of 168 passwords for their personal online accounts, plus 87 passwords for accounts related to their work. Those numbers are part of an upward-pointing trend, and remembering so many unique passwords can feel overwhelming. Password managers (like NordPass, Keeper, or RoboForm) help you safely store and access passwords for multiple accounts, each with their own unique password. Though reputable password managers typically charge a monthly or annual fee, these services are worth the expense because they reduce the temptation to reuse passwords and allow you safer access to all your accounts.
Learning how to strengthen your password protection, including frequently changing those passwords, is part of digital literacy. Keeping your online accounts safe will help ensure your privacy and your ability to access your own accounts. It also will give you greater confidence when you go online. Taking a few minutes to update your passwords is part of that commitment to staying safe in today’s digital world.
You can learn about Connected Nation’s latest digital literacy offerings by following us on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Also, check out our website to see how we are working to keep internet users safer online.
About the Author: Chris McGovern is the Connected Nation Director of Research Development. Chris works with Connected Nation staff and external stakeholders to develop research deliverables and provide critical analysis. He uses qualitative and quantitative techniques to interpret data, formulate reports, and make substantiated recommendations based on research findings.