Please choose strong passwords!
Hi there,
Over the past few months, since getting married with my beautiful wife, I’ve been able to gain a remarkable insight about password security. Not out of curiosity, but rather through the amusing revelation of my wife’s “creative” password choices, this insight has motivated me to shed light on the importance of strong passwords and password managers in the digital era. This blog post is dedicated to the necessity of these aspects of security and how they contribute to a robust digital defense.
Why (would I choose) strong passwords?
Believe me. I have heard this question more often than I should.
Choosing a strong password is a fundamental security measure that has a decisive influence on the integrity of digital systems and personal information. The functionality of strong passwords can be explained by various aspects:
- Protection against brute force attacks
A strong password consists of a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. This variety makes it difficult for attackers who use brute force* methods, in which automated programs systematically try all possible password combinations to gain access.
- Cryptographic security
Modern authentication systems use cryptographic hash functions to store passwords. Strong passwords that have a high entropy (i.e., they are not easily predictable) are more resistant to methods such as rainbow tables, which contain precomputed hash values for common passwords.
You can look at this matching xkcd comic here, which humorously illustrates the concept of entropy for passwords:
- Protection against dictionary attacks
A strong password should not contain easily guessable words or terms. Dictionary attacks rely on users using common words or terms as passwords. Avoiding such patterns significantly reduces the effectiveness of such attacks.
- Avoid password reuse
Many users tend to use the same password for different accounts. A strong password minimizes the risk of password reuse as it is less likely to be suitable for multiple applications. A way you can battle this can be found a little bit below.
- Security policy requirements
Many organizations and platforms enforce security policies that mandate the use of strong passwords. Compliance with such policies is not only a best practice, but often required by law.
Software such as password managers are available to manage the constantly growing number of logins and login data that users have nowadays.
Password Manager?
The large number of digital accesses requires not only strong passwords, but also efficient management. This is where password managers come in as digital tools to meet these requirements.
- Easier management of multiple accounts
A password manager not only makes management easier, but also protects against forgetting complex access codes for shared digital experiences.
Let’s say you share finances and plan joint activities with different online accounts. A password manager not only ensures security, but also makes everyday digital life easier.
- 2-factor authentication (2FA)
2FA is a method of authentication that is not based on a single factor (usually a password), but requires two different factors. Typically, a second factor is requested after entering the password. This can be implemented in different ways. 2FA significantly increases security because even if the password is compromised, as an attacker needs the second factor to access the account. This makes it more difficult for attackers, even if they find out the password. Thus, 2FA provides an additional layer of security beyond the traditional password, ensuring a higher level of security.
(You might want to know why you should use strong passwords when you have a second factor to protect your account. Well, I need topics for the next post, don’t I?)
- Compliance with password guidelines
Password policies may seem restrictive at times, but they are comparable to “golden rules” for secure digital interactions. A password manager ensures that these rules are followed without loss of user convenience.
Suppose a website requires a password with specific requirements. A password manager automatically generates a strong password that meets the guidelines.
Conclusion
The precise selection and effective management of strong passwords, combined with 2FA and compliance with specific password policies, form a comprehensive line of defense against growing digital challenges. By integrating these advanced security practices into everyday digital life, personal and business information can not only be protected, but also managed efficiently and securely.
* A brute force attack is like someone trying all possible combinations of numbers, letters and symbols until they crack the code. It’s like a guessing game where the attacker doesn’t know the answer, so they just keep trying different combinations until they get it right.