Short answer: password-change frequency is evolving. Most guidance now favors not changing passwords on a fixed schedule unless there is a reason (such as a breach or suspected compromise). Instead, focus on strong, unique passwords for each account, plus enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available, and use a password manager to store them securely. Details and best practices
- When to change passwords
- Change immediately if you know or suspect your password has been compromised, or if an organization you use has detected a breach affecting your account.
* For high-risk or highly sensitive accounts (banking, email, healthcare portals), follow guidance from the service and your organization; MFA is especially important here.
* If there is no sign of compromise and you have strong, unique passwords for each account, regular scheduled changes are generally not necessary and may even reduce security if it leads to weaker passwords or reuse patterns.
* If you must change on a schedule due to policy (e.g., workplace requirements), many organizations now adopt longer intervals (or no expiration) coupled with MFA and strong passwords; check your specific policy.
- What to prioritize instead
- Use long, unique passwords for every account. A password manager makes this practical by storing complex passwords and reducing memory burden.
* Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. This dramatically reduces risk even if a password is compromised.
* Monitor accounts for abnormal activity and respond quickly if you receive breach notices or alerts from services you use.
- Practical guidance for different scenarios
- Personal accounts: avoid unnecessary frequent changes; target a change only if there’s reason to believe a password was exposed or if the service advises it. Reserve changes for high-risk or data-sensitive accounts if you perceive risk.
* Work or organizational accounts: follow official IT/security policies; many organizations align with modern NIST guidance favoring changes driven by breach or compromise rather than routine expiration.
* Inactive or forgotten accounts: delete if possible; if not, reset to a strong, unique password and enable MFA for any remaining access points.
If you’d like, share which types of accounts you’re concerned about (email, banking, social, cloud storage, work accounts), and I can tailor a concrete, step-by-step plan (including MFA setup and a suggested password-management workflow).
