We all could use a reminder to review our passwords. World Password Day, observed every first Thursday in May, is your gentle nudge to make sure your passwords are as good as they can be. Why not take a moment today to strengthen your personal threat model and improve your opsec?
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, an agency part of the Department of Homeland Security, offers these tips for maintaining excellent password hygiene:
- Use multi-factor authentication when available.
- Use different passwords on every different system and account.
- Don’t use passwords that are based on personal information that can be easily accessed or guessed.
- Use the longest password or passphrase permissible by each password system.
- Don’t use words that can be found in any dictionary of any language.
- Use a Password Manager (that way you only have to remember a single password to access it).
Unfortunately, password breaches are a fact of life. Hackers are clever and will persist until they get what they want. And once they get what they want, your privacy and security can be jeopardized. Transparent Intelligence Services offers a Personal Privacy Assessment that includes a human-led investigation to monitor your privacy and limit your exposure online. They can even help you build a more secure digital presence online–or no online presence at all.
Of course, World Password Day also brings to mind the question: Why use passwords at all? Alternatives like email authentication, social media authentication, behavioral recognition, biometric authentication, and two-factor authentication are all in use now in various applications. However, until this technology–typically reserved for the most cutting-edge or largest companies–trickles down to everyone, we’re stuck with passwords. So, until your laptop can recognize your heartbeat, make sure you maintain a good offensive position on your passwords. And hey, Happy World Password Day!