February 1 is Change Your Password Day: Why You Should Change Your Passwords

Feb. 1 is change your password day, and you should change your passwords regularly just like changing a lock after a roommate moves out. If you've ever told someone what one of your passwords was, that's a good one to go ahead and change. Of course, if you've ever been a victim of cyber-crime, you already do this, but here's some tips on how and why to change your passwords. First, get a password manager. Programs like LastPass or 1Password are good choices that you'll also want to password protect. There's no need to pick a super-secret impossible to decode password, but a mix of numbers and letters that is hard to guess is perfect. Then give this password to your next-of-kin or someone you trust completely. This password you don't have to change very often.

For your email, try not to give out your password to anyone, but still change it a few times per year. This is an important one because there is so much potentially damaging info in your email a hacker could use against you. Try using a mix of symbols, numbers and letters. For your Netflix and Hulu type of sites, it's a good idea to change the password two or three times per year because they are somewhat likely to be shared by people in your house (especially if you have roommates).

If, like many people, you share your Amazon or iTunes accounts with your family, you should still change your passwords a couple times per year because of the financial info involved. This is especially true on iTunes where multiple accounts do not play nice with the iTunes interface. Try changing these passwords around the times of year when daylight savings changes. Finally, there are your social media sites. Don't share these with people, but you don't need to change them as much unless you do get hacked. Tell us in the comments if you share your passwords or how you easily remember your passwords.