In today’s digital world, everything requires a password—from your smartphone and laptop to apps, websites, online shopping accounts, and even financial or health information. It’s tempting to reuse the same few passwords or follow a predictable pattern to make them easier to remember. However, if you can guess your own password when you forget it, so can others.
The threat is more real now than ever before, as data breaches continue to affect large companies that store personal information and websites that track logins. If your email address is publicly known, it’s easy for malicious actors to attempt to log in to various common websites using compromised passwords from previous breaches. Often, these attempts are successful.
There are services available that scan the internet and deep web for your personal information and remove it, though we all know that nothing is ever truly removed from the internet. However, these services still provide valuable information, such as which of your most commonly used passwords have been compromised.
The most secure method is to use unique, strong passwords for every account. While this can quickly become overwhelming, password managers are a great, secure tool to help you generate and store secure passwords, allowing you to simply memorize the master password. While this secures your various accounts, having that master password cracked can be devastating.
This is why creating secure, strong passwords is crucial. Avoid using important dates, commonly used number patterns, or even names. Consider using phrases or entire sentences and mix in symbols or special characters.
Here are some tips for creating strong passwords:
- Use a mix of characters: Include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Avoid common words and patterns: Steer clear of easily guessable words, dates, and sequences.
- Use passphrases: Consider using a series of random words or a full sentence.
- Change passwords regularly: Update your passwords periodically to reduce the risk of compromise.
- Utilize a password manager: Store and generate unique passwords securely.
The weakest part of any security system is the users, and that includes you. Could a malicious actor guess your passwords or easily have them reset? Always monitor your own cybersecurity hygiene to ensure that you’re practicing good cybersecurity.
While you can control your own actions and security, accounting for multiple users can create gaps in processes and potential vulnerabilities. This is where enterprise-grade cybersecurity comes in. By using regular vulnerability scans, penetration tests, and access and user audits, systems can be secured more comprehensively.
To learn more about how Sentar can help you improve your cybersecurity infrastructure, check out our Solutions page or contact us through our website to learn more.
Stay vigilant and stay secure!
By Sentar, your trusted partner in cybersecurity.
Additional Resources: