The world wide web opened unthinkable doors and connected the globe unlike anything else ever could. Like everything in life, the digital age includes pros and cons.

On the first Thursday of May every year, techies celebrate World Password Day. No matter the day, we encourage anyone who participates in online activities to refresh their digital watchwords.

It may not be “traditional”, but it is one of extreme importance in our digital 21st century. Intel set out to create global awareness of the vulnerable nature of passwords and to educate consumers and businesses on what a solid password looks like.

Let’s explore how punters can find out if their casino of choice is a secure platform and how you can secure your digital identity.

 The Issue with Passwords

Most of us have at least a few online accounts that require password access. For many, it is challenging to remember these long secret codes, let alone a collection of them. Add to this the fact that these should contain letters, numbers, and characters and some end up with numerous accounts for the same app because they can’t remember their chosen password.

Why is it essential to create a long, unique, character-combination password for each separate account with our details? IT security professionals at Specops report that one of the biggest problems with security breaches comes from password reuse.

In other words, an individual has one password that initially passed the password strength goals, and they use it for all their accounts.

Interesting Fact: Google’s online security reports that 65% of people reuse their passwords.

This problem is further complicated if the password shows up on a list of breached passwords. Should the password become compromised, hackers have access to every account you own if you reuse the same password or variations of it.

 A Guide to Secure Online Gambling

The online casino industry continues to expand at a tremendous pace and, along with that, the regulated remote gambling market. With more online casinos to choose from than ever before and some punters enjoying the newly found safe space of licensed casinos, confusion and a false sense of security is a problem.

So, what are the steps you need to take to ensure a safe and stress-free online gambling experience?

The first step to secure online entertainment is installing an antivirus program on your device and keeping it updated. Choose a program with high ratings. Free and cheap isn’t always the best route here. Once you have peace of mind that your device and scrolling activities have maximum protection, the following steps will help you.

✓ #1 Pick a Reputable Operator

Players from any of the regulated gambling markets around the globe have the advantage of finding locally licensed websites. The country’s regulator usually offers a list of trusted and licensed sites available on their public portal.

Another way to confirm the legitimacy of the platform you choose is to check the validity of their licence. Do this by clicking on any of the licensing authority icons at the bottom of their home page. This should redirect you to the said regulator’s website and confirm the licence status as active.

At GamblersPick, we have a comprehensive list of trustworthy online casinos available to make this task easier for you.

When playing with an offshore operator, the non-negotiable is to check their licence validity. Follow the above licence check and only continue registration with the platform if its licence is up to date. Leading gambling authorities like the UKGC, MGA, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man GSC are safe choices.

Remember: Legitimate businesses will not request personal details from you via text or mail. Be aware of phishing schemes, and do not divulge your pin or passcodes to anyone.

✓ #2 Securely Create Your Account

Once you have a legitimate platform and confirm their licences, proceed with registration. This requires sensitive information from you as a means of identification to ensure you are of legal age and who you say you are.

The good news is that licensed and regulated casinos must follow strict security protocols, including encryption technology, on par with reputable financial institutions.

Sharing personal information happens on a need-to-know basis with any online transactions. Punters must always ensure the hosting website has an HTTPS connection. This is especially true for an offshore casino platform. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) appears ahead of the web address, and reliable browsers show the security of a site. An example of this would be the lock displayed in front of the URL on a Google browser. 

High-level encryption and a secure HTTPS connection offer users a safe setting to confidently share sensitive information.

✓ #3 The Magic Phrase

The most significant responsibility we have as players in a digital data network is to create strong passwords and follow the password security tips. Websites that work with sensitive information like financial details and identification documents usually have password strength metres. Some won’t allow a profile with a vulnerable password.

Length and randomness are key. The further removed the letters, numbers, and characters are from your personal preferences or hobbies, the better.

Experts recommend a minimum of 12 characters to include in your password, but more is better. It is the better option if the combination doesn’t make a recognisable word. Change the magic phrase regularly, and do not use it for any other account you have.

✓ #4 Two-Factor Authentication and Personal Questions

Most commonly known for its use in online banking, two-factor authentication is obligatory in some gambling jurisdictions. It uses a process where an additional device, like a mobile phone or key fob token, is required, and a unique one-time pin (OTP) is required during the login process. A successful login does not take place without entering the OTP.

We highly recommend using this security feature if your casino of choice has it available.

Some operators give the player an option to complete security questions. In the event of a password reset request, these questions come into play and should include details only you know the answer to. The most common among these is your first pet or car or maiden name.

Choose details that hackers can’t find online. Alternatively, give unrelated answers, but ensure you remember the details.

By using these options, your online gambling account becomes Fort Knox. That is, unless you picked one of the following passwords for the account.

 Password Fails

Specops is a market leader in the digital security industry, and their latest report of compromised passwords tells a tale of naïve, tech-savvy consumers. Decades after the uptake of password security and countless hacking debacles, some still use ‘password’ as their security phrase.

It is advisable to avoid passwords containing letters, numbers and character combinations of the word ‘password’ or ‘administrator’. Preferably leave the four seasons and your favourite band or movie out of it too.

Interesting Fact: Specops found that 41% of breached passwords contained at least 12 characters and advised for a passphrase to be at least 15 characters long.

Top compromised passwords include movie titles, pop stars, rock bands, Star Wars, and superheroes. Sports teams make it onto the list as well. While it is great to be a fan of Rocky, Yoda, Loki, and Premier League Football clubs, these are not wise choices when protecting your digital footprint.

 Creating Failsafe Passwords

Most websites require a password length of at least 8 characters. However, these often make it onto the list of compromised passcodes. In fact, tenacious hackers crack 41% of all passwords containing 12 characters or more.

Specops suggests picking a password with at least 15 characters. These characters have to be letters in upper and lower case, numbers, and symbols. Preferably, the letters should not synchronise to form a word and be in random positions.

The numbers or characters must not substitute a letter, for example, replacing the letter “E” with a “3”.

 Less Than Stellar Memory?

Unless you are Sherlock and freely access your mind palace, chances are you will forget a lengthy and complex password. Add to this that experts advise password renewals at a regular pace, and it becomes close to impossible to keep track of random characters that mean nothing to you.

The solution to this problem is to keep a record of your passwords. We are not referring to your magnet notebook on the refrigerator or the last page of your diary. Using trusted digital password managers gives you access to your passwords. Services like Google Password Manager auto-fill the details you allow it to save.

Another advantage of this is that password managers usually check compromised password lists and notify their customers of vulnerabilities. So free up some memory space in your head and secure all your online accounts with random passwords saved to a managing platform.