Why Your Passwords Stink and How to Fix Them
Passwords…we all have them…lots of them!! And to be safe, we need a different password for each log-in site. Why? Because otherwise, if one gets compromised, then they all get compromised.
In 2021, 123456 was the most commonly used password. What does this tell you? Yup, we aren’t giving much thought to our passwords. And do you suppose we’re changing them frequently, as we should? Nope.
Ah, you say, we now have multi-factor authentication confirming our identity, so passwords are less important. True, multi-factor authentication protects us a bit more, but NOT TRUE that we can be less diligent about password management.
Strong passwords do help to protect your accounts. But a strong, compromised password that’s used on every one of your accounts is still a compromised password that potentially opens all of your accounts to the bad guys. Too many people use the same password for every account, and the bad guys know this.
What to do?
1. Change your passwords and ensure they are at least 12-14 characters long, including capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t use something familiar like a dog’s name, etc.
2. Use random phrases or short sentences. This makes a password almost unbreakable within a realistic amount of time. OK, I know someone is going to say something about Quantum computing here, so let’s agree that that is a ways off from being readily available to most of the “mainstream” threat actors.
3. You might want to consider a password keeper to store your complex or completely randomized passwords. These can be hacked, so use them with caution.
4. You could write your passwords down in a notebook and keep them in a safe. Not really practical in the “on-the-go” lifestyle we have these days.
5. Use common sense when using passwords. Don’t share with people. Zero trust!!!
6. Don’t be social engineered! Be safe around emails with links to credential logins. Be sure the links are legitimate.
Just use a little common sense, follow my password tips, and you’ll drastically limit potential password compromises.
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