Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Blog topics: Archive
TODAY IS WORLD PASSWORD DAY!
A recent article on SecurityMagazine.com reported that a Dell Technologies Brain on Tech study found when people were tasked with logging onto a a computer (or, presumably, any mobile device) with a long and difficult password, their stress not only increased by 31 percent within (just) five seconds, but it continued to rise even after successfully logging in.
Sounds familiar, right? We've all been there. After all, the average internet user in the U.S. has around 70-80 different passwords. And while each one is supposed to be unique; you might be surprised to know that the most popular password in 2019 was 12345, followed by 123456.
Of course, with more people than ever before working from home and attending school remotely, the necessity of adding strength and a greater measure of complexity to the passwords we create -- for everything from our social media and email accounts to our bank accounts, medical records, and any other sensitive data we want to keep secure -- is, to put it mildly, changing rapidly.
At the same time, you'll be encouraged to know there are a lot more "easier-than-you-think" tips, solutions, and resources available to help you make sense of it all. To get started, there's two things to keep in mind -- you'll want to make passwords that are hard to guess, but easy to remember. And the longer the password, the better -- use at least 16 characters whenever possible.
To make your digital life easier, here's some other key tips to follow, including:
- Never reveal your passwords to others.
- Be sure to use different passwords for different accounts.
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA). It helps add a layer of protection.
- Consider using a password manager.
For additional information on keeping your personal information secure, visit the Indiana Cybersecurity Hub and check out our cyber tips page.
As we celebrate World Password Day, it's a good opportunity to look over the passwords you're using and take some time to do what you can to stay safe whenever you're online (without all of the stress).