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Lesson 03 of 065 min

Passwords & OTPs

Simple passwords, the same password everywhere, or sharing passwords with others can get your email, WhatsApp or bank account hacked. A few habits make you much harder to break into.

From our Digital Guidebook · Password & Account Hacking

In this lesson you will

  • Make a strong password you can remember
  • Understand what an OTP is for
  • Turn on two-step verification

Compare

Strong vs weak

Strong

  • Long: four random words or more
  • Different for every important account
  • Mixes words, numbers and symbols

Weak

  • Your name or date of birth
  • The same password for many apps
  • Shared with a helper, friend or caller

Sort it

Strong or weak?

Sort each password.

  • ravi1956

  • mango-kite-river-42

  • Password@123

  • 123456

  • blue-lamp-tiger-train!

How it works

How two-step verification protects you

  1. PasswordSomething you know
  2. Code on your phoneSomething you have
  3. Account opensOnly with both

An OTP (one-time password) is a short code sent to your phone to confirm it is really you. Whoever has the OTP can get in, which is why scammers ask for it. Type it only into the app or website you are using yourself.

How to

Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp

Following along on your phone? Tick each step as you go.

Test yourself

Quick check

0 of 2 answered

  1. 01Which password is strongest?
  2. 02Someone calls and asks for the OTP you just received. Why is that dangerous?