Passwords – the key to making or breaking your data
Passwords are essential for the security of data and user accounts. Yet, most users do not give them the deserved care and attention. According to SplashData’s yearly reports, ‘123456’, ‘password’ and the name of a favourite pet rank as top passwords for a couple of years now. Despite warnings and many data breach cases that have been made public since 2015, people continue to use weak passwords.
As time goes by and we get more addicted to the online world, people need to not only acknowledge the significance of using secure passwords, but also give them the importance they require.
There are a lot of things you can do to make sure you use a secure password, so here’s the three most important ones you actually must do:
1. No more Daisy, Coco and Fluffy
It is ok to choose a cool name for your dog, but it’s not cool to use that name as your password. More importantly, it is not secure at all. The easiest way for attackers to hack someone’s account is by guessing the password. And guess how much time will a fraudster need to find your Fluffy<3? A couple of hours, maximum.
A sequence of numbers is also a bad idea for passwords, especially if those digits are 123456 or 111111. As proven in the last couple of years, even though people continue to choose ‘123456’ as their account protection, this is one of the worst passwords you can use.
To increase your chances of having a more secure password, consider using a combination of digits, uppercase and lowercase letters and special characters.
2. Length matters
Another key aspect to have in mind is that a longer password is more difficult to crack. Security professionals advise people to choose passwords that have at least 12-16 characters and even replace simple passwords with passphrases. A passphrase is a sequence of words or other text that can be used to secure accounts. However, passphrases are more susceptible to dictionary attacks. So, it is recommended to make sure you do not use common statements or quotes as passphrases, but include special characters and replace certain letters for added security.
Now that you know what makes a good password, you’ve finally decided for a strong one. It is long, complicated and difficult to crack. The downside is that it is also quite hard to remember. So why not write it on a post-it or in your agenda? Or even better, store it on your computer in plain text? That is the worst idea ever! This way, anyone can get access to your password and then use it to control your accounts and steal sensitive data. Data that might not even be yours, but your company’s or customers’.
What to do in this case, you wonder? Use a password manager. There are a lot of tools that can help you store, organize, share and keep track of your passwords. This way, you don’t have to remember complicated passwords, you can store them in an encrypted databased and use them whenever you need by checking your password manager.
3. The more, the better, the safer
One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to passwords is using the same one for multiple accounts. Indeed, it is easier and more convenient. You don’t have to remember a lot of passwords and no tool is needed because, let’s be honest, ‘12345’ or ‘StarWarsRocks’ are as easy as saying ABC. But they are equally easy to guess and then attackers will have access to all your accounts. If this is too much of a hassle for you, try at least having different passwords for your financial accounts vs. your social media accounts and subscription services.
There’s another important thing, I’m sure you already know it and take it into account, that’s why I did not mention it: Do not share your password with anyone! Not even your best friend. And if you think you’ve been hacked, change your password immediately.
What other actions do you take to secure your accounts? Please share your comments below. Let’s join hands for a more secure online community!