Keeping your passwords safe is one of the simplest ways to protect your email, banking, shopping and social media accounts.

This beginner-friendly printable checklist explains the most important password safety rules in plain English, with no technical jargon.

Use it yourself, print a copy for a family member, or keep it somewhere easy to find.

Password Safety Checklist

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7 Simple Password Safety Rules

1. Use a Different Password for Important Accounts

Avoid using the same password for your email, banking, shopping and social media accounts.

If one password is stolen, criminals may try it on your other accounts.

Using different passwords limits the damage.

2. Make Your Passwords Long and Hard to Guess

Avoid obvious passwords such as:

your name;
your date of birth;
password123;
your pet’s name;
simple number patterns.

Longer passwords are generally harder to guess.

A password manager can help create and remember strong passwords for you.

3. Never Share Your Password

Do not give your password to someone who contacts you unexpectedly by:

phone;
email;
text message;
social media;
pop-up message.

A legitimate company should not unexpectedly ask you to tell them your password.

4. Consider Using a Password Manager

A password manager can securely store your passwords so you do not have to remember them all.

It can also help you create strong, unique passwords for different accounts.

Choose a reputable password manager and protect it with a strong main password.

5. Turn On Two-Step Verification

Two-step verification, sometimes called 2FA, adds an extra security check when you sign in.

For example, after entering your password you may also need:

a code from an app;
a security prompt;
a code sent to your phone.

This can help protect your account even if someone discovers your password.

6. Never Approve a Sign-In You Did Not Request

If you receive a security code or sign-in approval notification when you are not trying to sign in, do not approve it.

Someone may be attempting to access your account.

Open the genuine app or website yourself and review your account security.

7. Change a Password If You Think It Has Been Compromised

Change your password if:

someone else may know it;
you entered it on a suspicious website;
you receive a security warning;
the company tells you your account may have been affected by a breach.

Create a new password that you have not used elsewhere.

Important: Never Share Verification Codes

A scammer may know your name, email address or even part of your account information.

They may then ask you to read out a security code sent to your phone.

Never give an unexpected caller or message sender a password, one-time code or account verification code.

If you are unsure, stop the conversation and contact the company using its official website, app or trusted phone number.

Do I Need to Change My Password Regularly?

You do not usually need to change a strong password simply because a certain number of days have passed.

It is more important to:

use a strong password;
use a different password for each important account;
turn on two-step verification;
change the password promptly if you believe it has been exposed.

What Should I Do If I Forget a Password?

Do not keep guessing repeatedly.

Look for a Forgot password? or Reset password option on the genuine sign-in page.

Follow the provider’s official account-recovery instructions.

Be cautious of unexpected emails or messages offering to “recover” your password for you.

Related Online Safety Guides

You may also find these Simple Tech Guide resources helpful:

Only add the links above if the corresponding guide already exists.

Keep This Guide Handy

Print or save this password safety checklist and keep it somewhere useful.

A few simple habits — unique passwords, two-step verification and never sharing security codes — can make your online accounts much safer.

Simple Tech Guide — plain-English technology help for beginners.