Creating a strong password is essential to protect your personal information online. It can be tempting to overlook this step when creating an account on a website or application. However, to safeguard against identity theft and fraud, it’s crucial to understand how to create strong passwords to protect your private data.

What Is a Strong Password?

A strong password is one that can withstand hacking attempts for several months or even years. In contrast, a weak password is easy to guess and can be hacked in minutes.

First and foremost, avoid including personal information in your password, such as your name, surname, birth year, or city. These options are easy to exploit.

Next, consider the length of your password. A longer password is more challenging to compromise. Opt for passwords that are at least 14 characters long. If this length seems difficult to remember, rest assured that there are secure ways to memorize them, which we will discuss later. To make your password more complex, include both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as special characters.

But why do you need strong passwords?

Weak Passwords: Risk Factors for Your Business

A weak password provides insecure access to your private information and offers little protection:

• Passwords with fewer than 14 characters
• Using the same passwords for multiple platforms
• Passwords composed of common words or phrases

For a business, such vulnerabilities increase the risk of data breaches, which can be catastrophic not only for its customers, suppliers, and employees but also for its reputation.

A weak password can be easily broken through a cyberattack, especially through what is known as a “brute force attack,” the most commonly used method. This involves trying all possible combinations of numbers, letters, and special characters, depending on the password’s length. Thus, the shorter the password, the easier it is to guess. If the compromised password is also used for multiple online accounts, it takes very little for your data to be exposed to fraudulent activities.

How to Create a Strong Password?

So, what criteria should you consider when creating a strong password? As mentioned earlier, the longer the password, the more challenging it is to hack. Currently, the recommendation is to use passwords with a minimum of 14 characters. However, avoid obvious sequences, such as the consecutive order of numbers and letters on your keyboard, for example.

Also, avoid spelling words as they appear in the dictionary. There is an attack called “dictionary attack,” which involves trying all the words in the dictionary to crack a password. Instead of spelling the word correctly, you can replace certain letters with numbers, punctuation marks, or even intentionally misspell it. Additionally, there are password generators available that randomly mix numbers, letters, and special characters to create secure passwords.

How to Manage All Your Passwords Effectively?

Creating long and complex passwords is not enough; you also need to manage them effectively. Memorization can be challenging in this case, which is why it’s better to use a password manager. These software applications store and encrypt your passwords, providing a high level of protection since only authorized individuals can access them.

You should implement two-factor authentication (2FA). This process involves asking a user to confirm their identity by entering a code sent to them via email, text message, or an app.

Finally, regularly change your passwords. You can establish a password rotation cycle and remind your employees of upcoming changes. This is also an opportunity to educate your employees on cybersecurity best practices they can actively engage in.

What to Do If a Password Is Compromised?

Even though zero risk is impossible to achieve, there are solutions to limit the damage in case of a password breach. Start by changing your passwords and check the login history for any unusual connections. If multiple accounts share the same password, review them as well. For comprehensive protection and assistance in such a delicate context, you can rely on our services. Our experts provide assistance in case of issues and continuously monitor your systems for maximum security. Contact us to learn more.