A global pandemic, uncertain economic conditions, and a world of remote workers combined in 2020 to create a pandemic of cybercrime. Cybercrimes increased by 85%, and many of these crimes were caused by weak passwords that could be easily cracked.
The majority are aware of the dangers of using the same password on multiple accounts, but they still do it. Many people also use the passwords they use for work on personal accounts. A lot of people use poor passwords. Are you certain of yours?
You may have a strong password if it contains at least 11 characters, including capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and other symbols. Turn on two-factor authentication if a website only requires 6 or 8, so that you can stay safe.
The password should have at least 18 characters if you prefer phrases made up of random words. It’s not as secure as you might like to believe if you use the same password for numerous accounts. You can assess the security of your passwords here for your benefit.
These are the five most common passwords on the dark web 2020:
- 123456
- password
- picture1
- 12341234
- iloveyou123
People frequently use easy-to-hack passwords that include their favorite person, food, or city. Some people even use their own name and birthday and reuse this password across multiple accounts. Other common passwords include famous people, sports figures, and animals.
People continue to cling to weak, repeated, or reused passwords despite training or helpful reminders. Unsecure passwords pose a serious threat to online safety. Cyber security must include password education. Online services are used by a large number of people, so systems must stop users from accessing the data of other users. Authentication and identification are included in the password security protocol.
A strong password must satisfy two conflicting aims. It should be:
- Memorable enough not to have to make a note of it
- Long and unique enough that no one else can guess it.
It’s challenging to remember passwords, and it’s even more difficult to remember a strong password. Password security is made simpler by a password manager and multi-factor authentication.
Three tips for secure passwords
Randomize your password: You should use both uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers in your password, which must be at least eleven characters long. If you prefer phrases, you can use a longer password phrase with at least eighteen characters and various words. The lengthy sentence makes the password stronger. Remember, though, that the password phrase needs to include at least one unusual word.
Enable two-factor authentication: Use two-factor authentication if it’s available during login. To do this, first enter a username and password, then send a text message to your phone containing an additional code. Although it takes a little longer, it ultimately saves you money.
Log in and change your password – before anyone else does it for you: Change your password if you believe it to be compromised, have even the slightest suspicion that you may have revealed it, or if you believe someone could easily guess it. It’s crucial to frequently, but not excessively, change your password. A frequent password changer runs the risk of selecting weaker passwords.
What are you still holding out for? Before someone else does, log in and change your password to take control of your account.