It’s no secret that passwords are your only protection from cyber criminals. The importance of using secure, unique passwords is getting higher as we entrust personal information to organizations and businesses that can fall victim to data breaches and password leaks.
Although there may be little you can do to prevent a large-scale data breach, you can take the precaution of making sure you craft strong passwords for your online accounts.
Hackers are effective at ‘guessing’ your password. They program and process every word in the dictionary, plus letter and number combinations, until a match is found. Steer clear of using real words from the dictionary or proper nouns or names.
Increase the complexity of your password by using “&” /”!”/ “@” / “$,” and help decrease the chances of someone potentially hacking into your account.
The longer the password, the harder it is to crack. Try for a minimum of 10 characters.
TIMES IT TAKES A HACKER TO BRUTE FORCE YOUR PASSWORD
| Number of Characters | Number Only | Lowercase Letters | Upper and Lowercase Letters | Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters | Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols |
| 4 | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly |
| 5 | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly |
| 6 | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | 1 Sec | 5 Secs |
| 7 | Instantly | Instantly | 25 Secs | 1 Min | 6 Mins |
| 8 | Instantly | 5 Secs | 22 Mins | 1 Hour | 8 Hours |
| 9 | Instantly | 2 Mins | 19 Hours | 3 Days | 3 Weeks |
| 10 | Instantly | 58 Mins | 1 Month | 7 Months | 5 Years |
| 11 | 2 Secs | 1 Day | 5 Years | 41 Years | 400 Years |
| 12 | 25 Secs | 3 Weeks | 300 Years | 2k Years | 34k years |
| 13 | 4 Mins | 1 Year | 16k Years | 100k Years | 2m Years |
| 14 | 41 Mins | 51 Years | 800k Years | 9m Years | 200m Years |
| 15 | 6 Hours | 1k Years | 43m Years | 600m Years | 15bn Years |
| 16 | 2 Days | 34k Years | 2bn Years | 37bn Years | 1tn Years |
| 17 | 4 Weeks | 800k Years | 100bn Years | 2tn Years | 93tn Years |
| 18 | 9 Months | 23m Years | 6tn Years | 100tn Years | 7qd Years |
One tip is to think of a passphrase, like a line from a song, and then use the first letter from each word, substituting numbers for some of the letters. For example: “Money Money Money It’s a rich man’s world” could become “3Mi@rmWor”.
Never write down or hide passwords in a note or in your diary. Stories about hackers getting passwords by rummaging through trash, also known as dumpster-diving, are absolutely real.
When you type your password in a public setting, make sure no one is watching or looking over your shoulder. Avoid public network / devices to enter your password. It could be stored without your knowledge.
Password managers help by automatically filling in the information for you on some websites. Make sure you are using something substantially better than the google password manager.
Passwords for your financial accounts should be changed every month or two. Computer login passwords should be changed at least once a quarter. Using the same password for longer periods could put your information at risk if a data breach occurs.
If you lose one, you don’t want to automatically lose the other as well.
Two-factor authentication is a method of verifying your identity that adds a second layer of security to your account password. Types of two-factor authentication can include any of the following:
With two-factor authentication, you get an extra layer of security that hackers may not be able to crack as easily, because the criminal needs more than just the username and password credentials. You may already be using 2FA without realizing it. Your ATM card is an example, combining your physical card and your PIN.
Conclusion:
Remember the following points for password usage or creation.
| Do's | Don'ts |
|
|
|
2FA is also vulnerable. If hacker’s access your email account, a reset of password from the “Lost/Forgot password” link bypasses the 2FA and allows them to create a new password, locking you out of your account. Monitor your email account for messages requesting password changes.
MIMI PARTHA SARATHY
Managing Director,
Sinhasi Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
Your financial health is what you are working towards. It is always better to be secure than sorry. Much like in the world of investment planning, where our financial planners work, to help you maximize your returns so that the future is secured.
if you would like to better secure your future. Quite contrary to the subject of this blog, our password is very insecure.
Bibliography
How Passwords Get Hacked, SUCURI BLOG | Help secure your accounts with these strong password tips, NORTON | How Secure Is My Password? SECURITY.ORG
It’s no secret that passwords are your only protection from cyber criminals. The importance of using secure, unique passwords is getting higher as we entrust personal information to organizations and businesses that can fall victim to data breaches and password leaks.
Although there may be little you can do to prevent a large-scale data breach, you can take the precaution of making sure you craft strong passwords for your online accounts.
Hackers are effective at ‘guessing’ your password. They program and process every word in the dictionary, plus letter and number combinations, until a match is found. Steer clear of using real words from the dictionary or proper nouns or names.
Increase the complexity of your password by using “&” /”!”/ “@” / “$,” and help decrease the chances of someone potentially hacking into your account.
The longer the password, the harder it is to crack. Try for a minimum of 10 characters.
TIMES IT TAKES A HACKER TO BRUTE FORCE YOUR PASSWORD
| Number of Characters | Number Only | Lowercase Letters | Upper and Lowercase Letters | Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters | Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols |
| 4 | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly |
| 5 | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly |
| 6 | Instantly | Instantly | Instantly | 1 Sec | 5 Secs |
| 7 | Instantly | Instantly | 25 Secs | 1 Min | 6 Mins |
| 8 | Instantly | 5 Secs | 22 Mins | 1 Hour | 8 Hours |
| 9 | Instantly | 2 Mins | 19 Hours | 3 Days | 3 Weeks |
| 10 | Instantly | 58 Mins | 1 Month | 7 Months | 5 Years |
| 11 | 2 Secs | 1 Day | 5 Years | 41 Years | 400 Years |
| 12 | 25 Secs | 3 Weeks | 300 Years | 2k Years | 34k years |
| 13 | 4 Mins | 1 Year | 16k Years | 100k Years | 2m Years |
| 14 | 41 Mins | 51 Years | 800k Years | 9m Years | 200m Years |
| 15 | 6 Hours | 1k Years | 43m Years | 600m Years | 15bn Years |
| 16 | 2 Days | 34k Years | 2bn Years | 37bn Years | 1tn Years |
| 17 | 4 Weeks | 800k Years | 100bn Years | 2tn Years | 93tn Years |
| 18 | 9 Months | 23m Years | 6tn Years | 100tn Years | 7qd Years |
One tip is to think of a passphrase, like a line from a song, and then use the first letter from each word, substituting numbers for some of the letters. For example: “Money Money Money It’s a rich man’s world” could become “3Mi@rmWor”.
Never write down or hide passwords in a note or in your diary. Stories about hackers getting passwords by rummaging through trash, also known as dumpster-diving, are absolutely real.
When you type your password in a public setting, make sure no one is watching or looking over your shoulder. Avoid public network / devices to enter your password. It could be stored without your knowledge.
Password managers help by automatically filling in the information for you on some websites. Make sure you are using something substantially better than the google password manager.
Passwords for your financial accounts should be changed every month or two. Computer login passwords should be changed at least once a quarter. Using the same password for longer periods could put your information at risk if a data breach occurs.
If you lose one, you don’t want to automatically lose the other as well.
Two-factor authentication is a method of verifying your identity that adds a second layer of security to your account password. Types of two-factor authentication can include any of the following:
With two-factor authentication, you get an extra layer of security that hackers may not be able to crack as easily, because the criminal needs more than just the username and password credentials. You may already be using 2FA without realizing it. Your ATM card is an example, combining your physical card and your PIN.
Conclusion:
Remember the following points for password usage or creation.
| Do's |
|
|
| Don'ts |
|
|
2FA is also vulnerable. If hacker’s access your email account, a reset of password from the “Lost/Forgot password” link bypasses the 2FA and allows them to create a new password, locking you out of your account. Monitor your email account for messages requesting password changes.
MIMI PARTHA SARATHY
Managing Director,
Sinhasi Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
Your financial health is what you are working towards. It is always better to be secure than sorry. Much like in the world of investment planning, where our financial planners work, to help you maximize your returns so that the future is secured.
If you would like to better secure your future. Quite contrary to the subject of this blog, our password is very insecure.
Bibliography
How Passwords Get Hacked, SUCURI BLOG | Help secure your accounts with these strong password tips, NORTON | How Secure Is My Password? SECURITY.ORG
