20th May 2008
How secure is your password?
You've probably taken all the usual precautions: picked a memorable word, kept it to yourself, not written it down, not told anyone. So now your data is safe behind the unbreakable barrier.....Not convinced? Read on.
Even if you use a random word that is seemingly unrelated to you, you still might be at risk. There are about 1 million words in the English language, so what are the odds that I will be able to guess it?
1 in a million? No, 1 in 1. I can 100% guarantee to guess your password correctly at some point in my first 1 million attempts.
With easily developed password software and fast Internet connections, it wouldn’t take long to search every word in the dictionary and get access to your computer, files, documents, photos, clients, accounts and trade secrets--maybe more.
Q - So how do you avoid this? A - Create a strong password
Follow these simple rules below and it will be the other guy moaning about getting hacked, not you.
1. Make sure your passwords are 8 characters long and include a mixture of lowercase, uppercase, numerical and symbolic characters. Choose these characters randomly. This will stack the odds back in your favour and the would-be hacker will get bored before they get in.
e.g. Pick two random words i.e. 'Network' and 'Garden'. Mix them together and sprinkle a few symbols in there for good luck and it could look something like this - 'N3tW@rkG&rd3n'. It looks complicated and I know you're thinking "How am I going to remember that?!" But you will when you think about what's at risk. If a hacker makes 10 guesses a second at your password, it would take about 15 million years to cover all the variations. That sounds like better odds.
2. Add security into the development of your web systems. For some time now, all applications developed by Xibis have been forcing users to use strong passwords. This also reduces the ‘read over the shoulder’ office password thieves because it isn’t a simple word. In addition to this, if a user attempts to log into a Xibis system 5 times with an incorrect password, they will be locked out for a time. This additional step makes attempting to password hack using an automated software program extremely slow on any Xibis System.
3. Make sure other people in your organisation use strong passwords. What’s the point in guarding the front door if someone is handing our back door keys?
4. Last and most obvious, keep your password secret. Don't give your password to your secretary in case you are out of the office. Contact your IT department and get her set up in her own rite.