Password Security: How to Create Strong Passwords in 5 Steps (2023)

If you remember the first time you wentpassword- whether it's an email account or a social media platform - you've probably been asked to create a unique and complex password to protect your information. Password security has always been relevant, but today it has become even more important as cybercriminals are always looking for new and innovative ways to hack into your accounts.personal information.

To that end, online users must also find new and innovative ways to create strong passwords that they remember.Personal informationprotected. That's where this comprehensive guide to password security comes in. We'll address frequently asked questions like "How do I create a strong password?", "Why is password strength important?" and "How do you hack a password?" You'll also learn how stolen passwords have recently affected businesses and individuals, along with password security tips to help you lead a more cybersecure lifestyle.

How to create a strong password

Living in the 21st century means knowing that the words "password" and "security" go hand in hand. To keep your accounts, information, and devices cybersecure, you need to know how to create a strong password. But you may be wondering, "What is a good password?"

Here are instructions for creating a strong password that you can trust:

1. Never use personal information:Strong passwords should not contain any reference to personal information such as names, birthdays, addresses, or phone numbers.
2. Add any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols: Strong passwords contain a variety of random characters, numbers, and letters to make the password more complex.
3. Prioritize password length – strong passwords should be at least 16 characters to reduce the likelihood of being hackeddata leakocyber attacks.
4. Never repeat passwords:Reusing the same password for different accounts is riskyfill out certificatesAttacks commonly used by cybercriminals.
5. Avoid real words:Hackers use malware that can process any word found in a dictionary to crack passwords. Avoid using proper names and other unrelated dictionary words that could result in an insecure password.
   

Why is password security important?

We will68% of peopleBy reusing the same security password for different accounts, it goes without saying that most users need to reconsider their password security.privacyand cybersecurity at risk.

Without taking password security best practices into account, individuals and businesses can expose themselves to cybersecurity threats. Some possible consequences of weak password security are:

• data breaches
• identity theft
• calculatorseizure
• bribery
• loss of privacy

Inadequate password security can not only jeopardize the cybersecurity of individuals and customers, but can also lead to financial problems. Cyber ​​criminals are often looking for ways to access or use personal banking informationdata hijackingProfit. Businesses and individuals in the US almost lost$4.2 billionfor cybercrimes in the past year alone.

How do you hack a password?

Cybercriminals can hack security passwords you made up in many ways. Here is a list of some commonly used techniques to consider.

dictionary attacks

Dictionary attacks are a type of brute force cyber attack. Hackers use malicious programs to verify and test each word in a dictionary as a person's password. Due to these types of cyberattacks, we emphasize the use of different letters, numbers, and symbols when creating strong passwords.

• PASSWORD SAFETY TIP: Avoid real words and use a variety of letters, numbers and characters.

phishing scam

Identity fraudis a guySocial developmentScam that attempts to trick users into providing their online login details. Hackers use malicious links and cloned websites to impersonate legitimate companies by submitting a fake form to enter your credentials.

• PASSWORD SECURITY TIP: Always check the links you click and use antivirus software.

spray password

Password spraying is a hacking technique used by cybercriminals to guess the passwords of their potential victims. The method uses an extensive list of commonly chosen passwords to test a person's username. If there is a match, the hacker has access to the account information.

The solution to this type of cyberattack is to create strong, unique passwords and avoid easy-to-remember phrases, which makes password dissemination incredibly difficult for cybercriminals in general.

• PASSWORD SECURITY TIP: Do not use common passwords such as "12345" or "qwerty".

keylogger

keyloggerincludes installation ofMalwarethat can track a person's keystrokes as they type on their computer. Although these attacks are more difficult to execute compared to phishing and password leak attacks, they can trick a hacker into discovering usernames and passwords if they are careful enough.

Since the attacker can see what you type, creating a strong password will not protect you. In this case, it's a good idea to install cybersecurity software that can alert you to a potential risk.threaton your device.

• PASSWORD SECURITY TIP: Scan for any antivirus software you may have installed on your device.

credential stuffing attacks

Not to be confused with password spraying, credential stuffing uses known passwords to gain access to account information. This differs from password spraying because the passwords tested in credential stuffing attacks are stolen credentials obtained in a previous data breach.

The main way to protect against credential stuffing is to remember to never reuse the same passwords for different accounts, no matter how unique they may seem. This puts your most sensitive data at risk, which can put you in an undesirable situation.

• PASSWORD SECURITY TIP: Create unique passwords for each of your online accounts.

The impact of stolen passwords

To help you understand the real danger of not knowing how strong your passwords are, check out these up-to-date statistics that show just how important password strength is.

People and consequences of a stolen password:

• 4 out of 10 people have seen their data compromised online. (Google, 2019)
• In 2020, more than 240,000 complaints about phishing scams were reported. (FBI, 2020)
• 80% of hacking-related data breaches are related to passwords. (Verizon, 2020)
• 63% of consumers fear that their identity will be stolen. (Norton, 2021)

Business and consequences of a stolen password:

• Across all industries, it took an average of 280 days to identify and contain a data breach. (IBM, 2020)
• Perhaps 59% of US consumers avoid businesses that have been the victim of a cyberattack in the past year. (Arcserve, 2020)
• 57 percent of all businesses have had a mobile phishing incident. (Wandera, 2020)
• 68% of executives believe that their risk of suffering a cyberattack is increasing. (Accent, 2019)

10 tips for password security

Now that you understand the importance of password security and how to create strong passwords, check out this complete list of password security tips to improve your security.Cyber-Hygiene.

1. Do not use personal information:Using names, birthdays, addresses, or phone numbers in your password may reduce its effectiveness against cyberattacks.
2. Randomize patterns and sequencesNote: Randomizing patterns and sequences of letters, numbers, and characters can protect you from password broadcast attacks.
3. never reuse passwords:Recycling old passwords leaves your accounts vulnerable to credential stuffing
   Efforts of cyber criminals on the prowl.
4. Prioritize password length: The longer your password is, the harder it is for hackers to guess it.
5. never give out your passwords: Sharing your passwords with friends or family compromises the cybersecurity of your personal accounts.
6. Avoid public WiFi: Usepublic wifiwithout onevpnit allows hackers to track your online presence and potentially expose your device data, including saved credentials.
7. Use a variety of numbers, letters, and characters: Hackers are less likely to gain access to accounts with complex passwords that contain a variety of numbers, letters, and characters.
8. Download a reliable password manager:password managerthey are an excellent tool for people who struggle to create and organize their own passwords.
9. Check your password strength: Password strength checker aslast step, allows users to verify the effectiveness of the password they have created.
10. Change passwords regularly: Changing the passwords you create for your different accounts can ensure that you are taking all necessary steps to keep your accounts and data safe.

Password security is important, but it's only one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle. To create a trusted cybersecure ecosystem for yourself, you should think about all the ways to protect your devices before using afirewallto constantly monitor your network for suspicious activity. With this mindset, you will be up to the tricks of cybercriminals.

Frequent questions

keep readingAnswers to the most frequently asked questions about password security.

What is password security?

Password security involves using cybersecurity tools, best practices, and procedures to create passwords that can better protect personal information.

Why is password security important?

Creating a strong password is the first step a person can take to protect their devices and personal information.

What are the most secure types of passwords?

The best types of passwords include a variety of numbers and characters with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. They must not contain any personally identifiable information, such as names, addresses, or phone numbers.

How do I make my password secure?

Follow these five tips to create a strong password:

• Never use personal information.
• Add any combination of letters, numbers, and characters.
• Prioritize password length.
• Never repeat passwords.
• Avoid actual words.

What is an example of a strong password?

A strong password contains a combination of numbers, symbols, and letters and prioritizes length.

An example of a strong password would be: Wb%liYrLVNip*7lv

What are the five most common passwords?

The five most common passwords used today include:

1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. QWERTY
4. password
5. 12345

How do hackers get your password?

There are several ways hackers can get your password. Methods commonly used by hackers include credential stuffing, password spraying, keylogging, phishing scams, and dictionary attacks.

Does changing your password stop hackers?

Yes, changing your password can prevent hackers from getting your sensitive information.

Can a password be brute-forced?

Yes, some passwords are vulnerable to brute force techniques. Credential stuffing, password spraying, and dictionary attacks are common methods on the Internet.

Can a password be attacked by the dictionary?

Yes, single word passwords are vulnerable to dictionary attacks. Using a complex password with a variety of letters, numbers, and characters is a quick fix.