![]() Hackers target the weakest link "and your role is not to be the weakest link," Zur said.įor these purposes, it's advisable to use an app such as Google Authenticator or a hardware token like a YubiKey, instead of SMS, whenever possible, Cappos said. The idea behind multi-factor authentication - which requires two or more pieces of identifying information - is to make it harder for criminals to infiltrate your accounts. Even if a provider doesn't require it to be used, multi-factor authentication is a valuable security tool that's underutilized, according to security professionals. Some services such as Apple Pay mandate this extra layer of security for accounts. By contrast, the password "jesus" could be cracked instantly, while the same word with a capital "J" could be cracked in about 9 milliseconds, according to the website. Using the phrase "moneycashcheckbank" for instance would take a computer about 23 million years to crack, according to a website maintained by, which reviews safety products. You might, for instance, string together four random words like sun, water, computer and chair for one account, and use another set of four words for a different account, said Roy Zur, founder and chief executive at cybersecurity training company ThriveDX Enterprise. While randomly generated passwords are a best practice, not everyone likes using them, so at least make sure you're using credentials that can't easily be hacked. Choose strong passwords if you won't use random generation Even though it requires relying on a third party, password managers generally do a good job of protecting customer data, said Justin Cappos, an associate professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering whose focus includes cybersecurity and data privacy. Password managers can also be used to generate secure, random passwords, which are exceedingly difficult to crack. The user only has to remember one long strong password and the manager stores the others in an encrypted format. To keep track of passwords safely and efficiently, security professionals recommend using a secure password manager such as 1Password or KeePass. Focus on the highest risk, highest damage accounts." Use a password manager to encrypt your data "Don't change every single password you have. The same is true when it comes to password protection, Pierson said. A more manageable starting recommendation would be a once-a-day 15-minute walk around the block and small dietary changes. ![]() Telling a person who has many identical website logins and passwords to change them all at once is akin to advising someone to lose 50 pounds by running 20 miles a day and going cold turkey on sweets, he said. Start by focusing on the biggest risks first - email, financial, health care and social media sites, said Chris Pierson, founder and chief executive of BlackCloak, a cybersecurity company that specializes in preventing targeted attacks on company employees and executives. If you fall into this category, it's time to take action. Based on a sample of more than 39 million IoT and OT devices, about 20% used identical usernames and passwords, according to the Microsoft report. Change identical user names, passwords fast, and first, on key accountsįor ease, many people use the same username and password across accounts, but it also puts them at significant risk of having their information compromised. "As long as passwords are still part of the equation, they're vulnerable," Joy Chik, Microsoft's vice president of identity, wrote in a September 2021 company blog post. But many people still rely on passwords, and don't even use the two-factor authentication now considered critical. Microsoft users can already securely gain access to Windows, Xbox, and Microsoft 365 without using a password through apps like Microsoft Authenticator, and technologies including fingerprints or facial recognition. ![]() Big technology firms including Microsoft would prefer the world of passwords is eradicated, and they've been making changes for an online future that is less reliant on the vulnerable security step. ![]()
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