Chances are, you have dozens of passwords to access everything from your bank account to your email to your favorite shopping and social sites. Security experts agree that creating strong passwords is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cybercrime.

However, many people make egregious mistakes when it comes to passwords--using easily guessed words or series of numbers, reusing the same password over and over, or even using the word “password” as their password!

Cybercriminals use specially created programs to troll for passwords stored in databases for online retailers, financial institutions, and other sources. Once they find a password, they can plug it in to every possible site and location. If you use weak passwords or use the same password for everything, it’s that much easier for cybercriminals to access your information.