After a series of high-profile breaches, we wanted to update an article we developed a few years ago about some of the disturbing trends we continue to see with end user password behaviors. It\u2019s fair to assume that a strong password is one of the most important security tools that any user can employ to minimize the chances of a breach, but we unfortunately see that users oftentimes continue to be unaware of the dangers of weak passwords or weak password management policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year, researchers from NordPass survey millions of passwords to determine the worst passwords people use. Despite the countless warnings from cybersecurity experts, people continue to choose weak, guessable, and sometimes embarrassing login credentials to protect their most precious information. Case in point, the top, most used phrase was, yet again, \u2018123456.\u2019<\/p>\n
The list features several other ineffective passwords that have long remained on the list.\u00a0 This includes \u201cpassword\u201d in fourth place, \u201c111111\u201d in sixth, and \u201cqwerty,\u201d in 10th.\u00a0 However, we did see some new entries on Nord\u2019s annual list, including \u201cpicture1,\u201d \u201cchatbooks,\u201d \u201cjacket025,\u201d \u201cevite,\u201d \u201cbabygirl1,\u201d and \u201cdefault.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for password ideas, don\u2019t look to a galaxy far, far away: \u2018Unfortunately, while the newest episode may be a fantastic addition to the Star Wars franchise, \u2018starwars\u2019 is a dangerous password to use,\u2019 said Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData back in 2017.\u00a0 \u2018Hackers are using common terms from pop culture and sports to break into accounts online because they know many people are using those easy-to-remember words.\u2019<\/p>\n
Despite Slain\u2019s warning, \u201cstarwars,\u201d \u201cbatman,\u201d and \u201cpokemon\u201d still rank amongst the top, most used passwords in 2020.<\/p>\n
Maybe you\u2019re already a proactive password producer \u2014 you use a password management tool<\/a>\u00a0and avoid crackable options like your birthday or address,\u00a0 but you could still do more to keep your information safe.\u00a0 While it\u2019s true, no one enjoys remembering passwords<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 bogging down your brain with a mental list of strategically picked nonsense\u00a0\u2014 doing so may make the difference between security and danger. Here\u2019s how you can better create and protect your passwords.<\/p>\n By employing these password best practices and encouraging your teams to do so as well, will go a long way toward strengthening your cybersecurity posture and significantly reduce the chances of a breach. As today\u2019s cybersecurity landscape becomes increasingly more volatile, it\u2019s of the utmost importance that you address these seemingly small issues and understand how your seemingly benign actions can negatively impact your organization. To that point, it\u2019s just as important that your team understand how these small precautions help and in addition to enforcing a strong password policy or implementing a password management tool, we recommend routine end user security awareness training. Not only does this training help users proactively address red flags that could lead to a breach, it helps them understand that you\u2019re only as strong as your weakest link and that your organization\u2019s cybersecurity- and safety- depend on their vigilance and understanding of these potential threats.<\/p>\n For more information about password management tools or end user security awareness training, please give us a call at 508-543-6979 or send us a message here to get started. My team at TSI is here to help you establish a strong security strategy that will help protect your network from inside and outside threats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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