Page 77 - BusinessWest February 20, 2023
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Guessing Game
Don’t Make Yourself a Target with Easily Cracked Passwords
NordPass, a password manager that provides users with an encrypted password vault, recently released
its annual report on the most commonly used — and, therefore, most easily cracked — passwords.
The most common password globally? That would be ‘password.’ The rest of the top five: ‘123456,’ ‘123456789,’ ‘guest,’ and ‘qwerty.’
In the U.S., ‘guest’ takes the top spot, fol- lowed by ‘123456,’ ‘password,’ ‘12345,’ and ‘a1b2c3.’
Clearly, not a lot of effort is going into creating such passwords, and it doesn’t take a hacker much time — mere seconds, actu- ally — to defeat them.
Popular films and TV shows also rank among the past year’s most popular pass- words, including ‘batman,’ ‘euphoria,’ and ‘encanto.’
“While the worst passwords might change every year, human beings are crea- tures of habit,” NordPass notes. “Every year, researchers notice the same pattern — sports teams, movie characters, and food items dominate every password list.”
Here are a few tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create strong, secure passwords.
Make Your Password Long and Strong
That means at least 12 characters. Mak- ing a password longer is generally the easi- est way to make it stronger. Consider using a passphrase of random words so that your password is more memorable, but avoid using common words or phrases. If the ser- vice you are using does not allow long pass- words, you can make your password stron- ger by mixing uppercase and lowercase let- ters, numbers, and symbols.
Don’t Reuse Passwords
Use different passwords for different accounts. That way, if a hacker gets your password for one account, they can’t use it to get into your other accounts.
Use Multi-factor Authentication When Possible
Some accounts offer extra security by requiring something in addition to a password to log in to your account. This is called multi-factor authentication. The
something extra you need to log into your account fall into two categories: something you have, like a passcode you get via an authentication app or a security key; or something you are, like a scan of your fin- gerprint, your retina, or your face.
Consider a Password Manager
Most people have trouble keeping track of all of their passwords. The longer and more complicated a password is, the stron- ger it is, but a longer password can also be more difficult to remember. Consider stor- ing your passwords and security questions in a reputable password manager. To find a reputable password manager, search inde- pendent review sites, and talk to friends and family for ones they use. Make sure to use a strong password to secure the information in your password manager.
Pick Security Questions No One Else Can Guess
“While the worst passwords might change every year, human beings
are creatures of habit. Every year, researchers notice the same pattern — sports teams, movie characters, and food items dominate every password list.”
 If a site asks you
to answer security
Passwords
Continued on page 78
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