Passwords Pains

We all have them, the password pain in the patootie blues, so to speak. We need a password for almost everything. Apps of various kinds, social media, websites, business accounts … the list goes on and on. In your mind it makes sense to make it easy, so you don’t have to remember so many, but that’s what those hackers are hoping for. Let’s take a look at some of the considerations around passwords.

Creating memorable passwords is the first challenge. I love it when I get an app that provides a password for you and you look at is as though it is code for technology behind the app. Sure I can take that password but when it asks me to provide it later when that app is glitchy, the odds of me remembering it are less likely than me running a marathon! Some people are genius at mixing words with numbers and symbols and holding that all in their cloud-like mind. For those of you that need some guidance, check out these resources on VAX.

Education Tab > VAX Training & Education > Minimizing Fraud Risks:

• Tips for Creating a Strong Password
• Things to Avoid When Creating Passwords

Remembering Your Passwords

When it comes to remembering your passwords for later, most of us know that writing them down in a book is not the best idea, yet I see it all the time. Storing passwords in a secret place on your phone is yet another idea, that may not be the best unless it is a secure place. There are some great password mangers out there that work well — I found this review The Best Password Managers for 2022. The one my family uses is one of the top five on this list. Even though it’s easy to remember one password across multiple apps or sites, it’s not a wise choice to use the same one as you are opening the gateway for anyone that finds it access to your data.

Sharing Passwords

It’s crucial to think about whether to share a password. At the end of the day, it’s not a good idea to share passwords. I’m always shocked at how many people share their password so freely when asking for help accessing their account. Regarding VAX, it’s not a good idea to have multiple advisors using the same username under an agency. In the case where a family is perhaps sharing a service, if you need to share a password, do not email it or text it to each other. That is not encrypted and can be read via the transmission.

Changing Your Passwords

Lastly, for this article anyway, is how often you have to change the passwords. If you use VAX VacationAccess, you’ll be prompted the change your password every six months. This is a security measure for you and your business. If your account hasn’t been accessed for six months, it will be locked and you will need to contact your site manager for assistance resetting your password. If you are the site manager, you will need to contact VAX Tech Support for assistance. While I get frustrated when I need to change my passwords across different accounts, it’s worth it to keep my account and my information secure.

To close, let’s hope we move toward a world where those that use their skills to rip people off will instead use their talents to benefit others. In the meantime, we need to focus on keeping our private information safe and secure. What are your password tips?

About the Author

Beth Kitzman is the business development manager for Trisept Solutions' Agency Channel for VAX VacationAccess. Beth focuses on nurturing business relationships and finding exciting, unique ways for VAX to support travel agencies. With over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, beginning with Walt Disney World then working for airlines and now focusing on travel technology, Beth loves using her education degree to find ways to educate and empower travel agents to grow their leisure travel business.