Passwords are the keys to your digital life. They protect your personal information, your online accounts, and your identity from hackers and cybercriminals. But if you use the same password on different accounts, you are putting yourself at risk of a serious security breach.
Why is using the same password on different accounts a bad idea?
Using the same password on different accounts makes it easier for hackers to access multiple accounts with a single successful attack. For example, if a hacker gets hold of your email password, they can use it to log into other accounts that use your email as a username – such as social media, online banking, or shopping sites. They can also use your email to reset passwords for other accounts that you may have forgotten about.
Using the same password on different accounts also means that you are relying on the security of each site that you use. If one of those sites suffers a data breach and exposes your password, all of your other accounts that use the same password are compromised as well. Hackers often use stolen passwords from one site to try them on other sites, hoping to find a match. This is known as ‘credential stuffing’, and is a common and concerningly effective way of hacking into accounts.
How can you create and remember strong passwords?
Creating strong passwords is not as hard as it may seem. To create passwords that are hard to guess and crack, you can:
- Use at least 16 characters of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols in your password. The longer and more complex your password is, the harder it is for hackers to crack it with brute force or dictionary attacks.
- Avoid using any personal information in your password, such as your name, date of birth, address, phone number, or anything that can be easily found on social media or public records. Hackers can use this information to guess your password or answer your security questions.
- Avoid using any common words or phrases in your password, such as “password”, “123456”, “qwerty”, or “iloveyou”. These are some of the most commonly used passwords and are often a hacker’s first few guesses.
- Use a different password for each account that you have. This way, even if one of your passwords is compromised, the rest of your accounts are still safe.
- Use a password manager to store and generate your passwords. A password manager is a software application that helps you create, remember, and autofill your passwords for different accounts. It also encrypts your passwords and stores them securely in your device or in the cloud. 1Password has proven popular with enterprises and consumers alike.
Why are password managers important?
Password managers make it substantially easier for you to create and use strong passwords for different accounts. Password managers can help you:
- Generate random and complex passwords (like those recommended above) for each account that you have. You don’t have to worry about coming up with unique and secure passwords yourself.
- Remember and autofill your passwords for different accounts, meaning you don’t have to memorise or type in your passwords every time you log in. You only need to remember one master password to access your password manager.
- Sync your passwords across different devices. You can access your passwords from any device that has your password manager installed and logged in.
Poor password security is an irredeemable flaw in any business’s cybersecurity regime. Strong passwords are the first line of defence against hackers and cybercriminals intent on stealing your business’s data or personal identity. Ensure you implement these suggestions to strengthen your cybersecurity game.