Have you ever wondered if your password is among the most used? Did you know that simple and weak passwords can pose a huge risk to your online security? How can you protect your personal information from cyber attacks?
Cybernews, a respected information security source, recently published a list of the most used passwords in 2023. It has been at the top of this list for many years password “123456”.
Surprisingly, but sadly true, more than half of users use the same password for all their accounts. And more worryingly, this password is also among the most common choices of users.
You may now be wondering if it is possible that this is your password as well. If that's the case, don't panic—they're here tips, how to secure your accounts with strong and secure passwords.
In a world where our digital presence is becoming increasingly important, weak passwords are becoming a ticket to cybercriminals. Using the same password for multiple accounts allows easy access to our email inboxes, social networks and other important accounts.
But why do we choose weak passwords so often?
Online services and accounts are multiplying, which makes remembering strong and unique passwords for each account a real challenge. Also, the rush to create new accounts can lead to choosing simple passwords. In addition, beliefs such as "I have nothing to hide" or "my data is not valuable" influence the choice of weak passwords.
Many weak passwords include simple elements, such as names, dates of birth, pet names, favorite foods, places, cars, and even famous people's names. Many people use their children's names or even their favorite food as passwords. Also, simple sequences of numbers or combinations are often used.
How to create a password that is easy to remember and strong at the same time?
Ideal passwords are at least as long 12 characters and include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. One effective approach is to use a string of words and symbols. Here is a simple guide on how to achieve this:
1. Choose a sentence that you are familiar with and can remember, for example "A kind word opens an iron door".
2. Use the initials of each word in the sentence, for example “Lbžvo”.
3. Add a mix of upper and lower case letters and your chosen date, for example “LbZvO130750”.
4. For additional security, add another abbreviation from the selected phrase, for example "LbZvO130750Lbžvo".
5. So you now have an 18-digit password that combines upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. This is a password that you can remember, but at the same time it is extremely secure.
When creating strong passwords, it is important to use a technique that ensures high degree of randomness, thereby increasing their resistance to potential attacks. However, you should not use the same strong password for different accounts.
Creating unique passwords for each account is key to the security of your personal data. Passwords should also be updated regularly to keep them secure.
Passwords are the first line of defense against online scammers and hacker attacks, so it's extremely important that you take steps to protect your personal information from cybercriminals.
