Whenever you register for services over the internet, such as banking or insurance, websites will require you to create a password. These passwords provide a layer of protection for your confidential information. Many websites have different rules for making a password, such as adding capitalized letters and special characters. A few may even require you to change your password after a specific length of time. If you have too many incorrect login tries, some websites will lock you out of your account.
Trying to remember all these passwords can be inconvenient, so many people will use unsafe memorization methods, including using the same password for every website and writing passwords down on a piece of paper. Also, quite a few professionals will exchange passwords back and forth by email. Even worse, many people will even use easy-to-guess passwords, which leave them prone to security breaches, such as identity theft and data leaks. Lookout listed the 20 most common passwords leaked on the dark web. If you are using these, please change your passwords now:
What are the most found passwords on the dark web?
- 123456
- 123456789
- Qwerty
- Password
- 12345
- 12345678
- 111111
- 1234567
- 123123
- Qwerty123
- 1q2w3e
- 1234567890
- DEFAULT
- 0
- Abc123
- 654321
- 123321
- Qwertyuiop
- Iloveyou
- 666666
A password manager can offer the storage of your login data inside an encrypted cloud vault that the user can only access by a master password. A browser extension will capture your password and offer to save it into the system. Then, the password manager will automatically enter your login information. Additionally, the system will flag weak passwords and create strong passwords for you. If you change your password, the system will discover the event and update the information. Many online password managers will even synchronize their services from the desktop computer to the mobile device and vice versa.
What password managers can you use?
How can you protect your passwords?
To keep your passwords protected, we suggest:
- Setting up a password policy
- Keeping browsers, plugins, and operating systems updated
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi when entering passwords
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Change all your passwords so they are hard to crack. Check out this tip from security expert Bruce Schneier: “Come up with an entire phrase that’s easy for you to remember, and then use the first instance of each letter, number, and symbol from each word in the phrase, keeping punctuation intact as well.”
If you’re interested in a review of your business cybersecurity and setting up a password manager, contact SwiftTech Solutions by calling 877-794-3811 or emailing info@swifttechsolutions.com for a free consultation.
*This blog was originally published in April 2016 and updated for accuracy.
SOURCES
Widder, B. Avoid Google Chrome’s security flaw with these password manager apps. (2015, April 5). Retrieved from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/quick-guide-to-password-manager-apps/
Peters, S. 10 Password Managers For Business Use. (2015, September 28). Retrieved from: http://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/10-password-managers-for-business-use/d/d-id/1322326
Glaser, A. You Need a Password Manager. Here Are Some Good Free Ones. (2016, January 24). Retrieved from: http://www.wired.com/2016/01/you-need-a-password-manager/
Williams, Z. Passwords, phones and privacy settings: how to protect yourself online. (2016, April 19). Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/19/how-to-protect-yourself-online-passwords-phones-privacy-settings
Barker, I. Frustration with conventional password management leads to risky behavior. (2016, April 22). Retrieved from: http://betanews.com/2016/04/20/password-frustration/
Rubenking, N. The Best Password Managers for 2016. (2016, February 9). Retrieved from: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407168,00.asp
Waxman, O. These Are The 25 Worst Passwords of 2014. (2015, January 20). Retrieved from: http://time.com/3672431/worst-passwords/
Chang, L. Wookie Mistake: ‘starwars’ is Now One of the World’s 25 Worst Passwords. (2016, January 19). Retrieved from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/splashdata-worst-passwords/