Is Having Long Passwords Enough to Be Safe?

October 27, 2023

Have you ever considered how secure your passwords really are? Is it always true that longer passwords are better? We might need to have a serious discussion about password security.

Recent studies have uncovered an alarming fact: even passwords that are 15 characters long can still be vulnerable to hacking. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it's essential to acknowledge that longer passwords don't always mean greater security. The most commonly compromised password length is eight characters, but having a longer password doesn't guarantee safety either. In fact, even 15-character passwords appear in the list of the top ten most compromised lengths.

You may wonder, "How is this possible?" The solution is based on more than just the length of the password but also on the composition of the password and whether or not you utilize the same password across various platforms. The most compromised eight-character password is none other than "password" itself, while the most compromised 15-character password is "Sym_newhireOEIE." Doesn't seem very secure, does it?

It's not only individuals who are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Your business is also at significant risk, with almost 90% of all cyber attacks beginning with stolen credentials.

As a business owner, can you afford to be unconcerned about this issue?

Using longer passwords can provide better protection against brute force cracking. For instance, an eight-character password can be easily cracked in five minutes. However, a robust 15-character password that doesn't follow any predictable patterns and uses a variety of character types can take up to 37 million years to crack.

But having a lengthy password isn't the only solution to protect against stolen credentials through phishing attacks!

• A reliable business password manager can be extremely helpful. It not only creates strong, random passwords for you but also retains them and fills in the login information for you.
• You should also enable two-factor authentication, which involves generating a code on a different device to verify your identity. This is a good security measure because even if hackers manage to steal your password, they won't be able to gain access to your information.

If you require assistance in improving the security measures for your business, please do not hesitate to contact us at solutions@hub.ca.

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