Passwords are an essential and vital part of the digital world. They’re the virtual keys that grant authorized people access to sensitive data. It’s not that easy to copy a key in the real world, but things are different on the internet. There, security depends on the complexity of the password. A secure password is crucial to keep data protected. Think of all the passwords you have and ask yourself: “How secure are they?” Read on to learn what makes a password secure and what you absolutely should avoid doing. Also discover how Avira Password Manager makes it a breeze to create even complex passwords, manage them, and improve your protection.
Your 101 to why a secure password is critical
A strong password is essential for data security and protecting your online identity. If you want to prevent unauthorized third parties, such as cybercriminals, from accessing your sensitive data, you need at least a password. It’s something that goes for both personal and business information. Interestingly, IBM Security discovered that age plays an important role in password management, finding that youngsters are more likely to use weak passwords.
There are numerous advantages to using a secure password:
- Protection against unauthorized access: It’s crucial to restrict digital access to online accounts, especially in relation to your finances, insurance policies, health records, and the shops you buy from.
- Privacy protection: Nobody should be able to access sensitive information such as your home address, email address, or telephone number.
- Identity theft protection: Cybercriminals can commit crimes with your personal info and take out contracts in your name. Personal data is also often sold on the dark web.
- Protection of financial data: Online banking is a very risky activity for many because of the sensitive information that’s involved. Unauthorized transactions and the loss of large sums of money are a risk that could wipe you out.
- Protection of business data: Organizations need good passwords to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. Such data can include business plans, sales forecasts, and customer data.
What qualities does a secure password have?
For many people, passwords are a necessary evil: They should be quick to create and easy to remember. The main reason for this is the fact that people believe nothing is going to happen. But an insecure password can cause immense damage: Passwords are for security, not convenience. Believe it or not, it’s actually quick and easy to create a good password.
How to create a secure password
It’s up to you just how secure you want your passwords to be. But to make them super secure, make sure they tick the following boxes:
- Length: The longer a password is, the better. A good, long password consists of at least 12 unique characters. That said, 14 or more characters are recommended. That’s because the longer the password is, the harder it becomes for invaders to crack it. Hackers typically only need around 40 minutes to crack a password comprising 8 characters. Using a computer, they can run through all the combinations until the password is cracked. However, if the number of characters is twice as high, it would take cybercriminals decades to crack it despite using all the tech at their disposal.
- Complexity: A combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters makes it more difficult for hackers to decrypt your password and gain access to your login data.
- Mix it up: For a secure password, you should use a totally random string of characters. Avoid passwords that contain personal information such as your date of birth. An example of a random password is J7k#9XpL!w3&Qr.
- Make it unique: You should use a unique password for each website and service. Never use the same password multiple times. If you do, all your accounts could be put at risk in the event of a data breach.
What you should definitely avoid
Here are some no-gos when creating a password so you can improve your protection. Weak passwords include:
- Default passwords: Avoid simple passwords like “ABCDE”, “123456”, “admin”, or “password”. Such strings are easy to crack without attackers even needing special tools.
- Simple passwords: Avoid passwords that are easy to guess. These include your own name, your date of birth, or your favorite food.
- Recycled passwords: If possible, use each password only once.
- Leetspeak: Even though this is basically a mix of letters and numbers, never use Leetspeak. This method involves replacing letters with numbers. Here’s an example based on the word wireless: w1r3l3$$.
- Act fast: Change all your passwords regularly, and straight away if you’re informed of a data breach. If you don’t act fast, criminals can take over your user accounts.
Psychological factors behind password selection
A person’s choice of password is not a purely technical decision, but often more of a human one. Various factors influence what a particular password looks like. The main aspects include:
- The brain power that’s involved: Most users prefer passwords that are easy to remember and quick to enter. This is why passwords are often used repeatedly, and they’re also simple and not very complex. Convenience and routine play an important role here. But if this information is exposed in a breach, your accounts can easily be hacked in the event of a cyberattack. That’s why it’s best to use strong and unique passwords to protect your information from hackers.
- The perceived risk: Users tend to choose more complex passwords when the potential risk is higher. That’s why you’re more likely to choose a secure password for online banking, PayPal, or your email account than you would for your streaming account.
- Trust in the platform: When a website gains a user’s trust and is considered secure, they are more likely to choose a simpler password.
- Pop culture, friends, and family: Passwords are often chosen to which the user has an emotional connection. Whether it’s a current series, your favorite movie, or your mom’s year of birth — these types of passwords are easy to remember.
Basically: Technically savvy users are more likely to choose a complex password because they’re more aware of the implications of their decision. Most people change their attitude towards their passwords once they’ve been bitten and become victims of cybercrime.
Tips for creating and managing passwords
It’s quick and easy to create a secure password. You can really take your IT security to the next level by using random keystrokes and a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Alternatively, you can use an even easier option: Most browsers or a password generator will help you generate a secure password. When doing so, it’s important that your password has at least 12 characters and that you don’t use the same password more than once.
Never write down your passwords either. And by changing your passwords regularly, you also reduce the risk of them being cracked. To make things even easier, you can use a password manager to store all your passwords so you don’t have to remember complicated strings.
Advanced security strategies and additional tips
A complex and random password is already the most important step you can take towards safeguarding your data. In addition to secure passwords, there are other ways to strengthen your digital security. These include:
- Use two-factor authentication (2FA): Using two-factor authentication significantly increases your security without much effort. This means you can add a code to your user account login process in addition to your email and password. This code will be sent to you either via email, text message, or directly via an authenticator app.
- Biometric data: Using biometric data, you can ensure that no one else has access to your devices or sensitive data. Using your fingerprint or facial recognition is a really convenient way to unlock your device, plus these methods offer a high level of security.
- VPN: To protect both your passwords and your privacy, it’s worth using a VPN. It masks your IP address so that internet service providers (ISPs) can’t track what you get up to online.
- Phishing: It’s also crucial to be wary of phishing attacks. By being able to spot email scams and avoid clicking dangerous links or opening suspicious attachments, you can significantly improve your online security.
- Antivirus technology: An antivirus solution scans your devices for viruses and other malware, helping you suss out possible cyberattacks like phone hacking faster. Avira Free Security can help you discover malicious software such as keyloggers in real time. You can also use the solution to strengthen the security around what you do online. Enjoy real-time protection thanks to cloud-based detection of the latest threats. You can also use the solution to create strong and complex passwords.
Enjoy complex passwords at a click with Avira Password Manager
Do you want to enjoy greater security without sacrificing convenience and ease of use? With Avira Password Manager, you no longer have to worry about forgetting a password.
The tool helps you create and save a unique, complex password for each of your user accounts. With just a few clicks, you can log in to any of your online accounts without having to remember passwords or type them in manually. You only have to remember your unique master password for the app — Avira Password Manager takes care of the rest.
