Why You Need to Have Secure Passwords in 2023
In 2023, the range of devices and number of accounts we use each day is at an all-time high. The average internet user currently has 240 online accounts that require a password. All this digital activity presents opportunities for cybercriminals to take advantage of weak points. Prioritizing password security helps keep your information secure, but it can be daunting. Fortunately, with a password manager, you can secure logins and simultaneously simplify browsing, online shopping, and workflows. Here are the reasons why you need to have secure passwords.
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The importance of password security
Why is password security important? As our first and best line of defense against unauthorized computer or device access, the value of passwords is unmistakable.
- The danger of reused passwords: It’s easy to reuse the same familiar password we’ve used for years, but reused passwords are one of the most common root causes of data breaches, as they can provide access to multiple accounts at once.
- The risks of unsecured passwords: Weak or poorly protected passwords are much more susceptible to common hacking techniques, including:
- Brute force attacks, where multiple, random username and password combinations are continually entered in an attempt to access private accounts.
- Credential stuffing, where automation is used to enter stolen user credentials into various accounts until a match is found. This tactic relies on consumers reusing the same login information for multiple accounts.
- Password hygiene: Strong passwords are important because the stronger they are, the less vulnerable you are to a cyberattack. Improving password hygiene involves evaluating how we create, store, and share passwords and understanding how to do each of these things better. A great way to measure your password hygiene is by monitoring your password health score with a password manager that can detect the health of your passwords across the board.
- By executive order: In case you thought password security wasn’t important, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued an executive order listing password managers as critical software. This U.S. Government designation was based on a recognition of password managers as critical to IT environments and endpoint (device) security.
- The dark web: You may not even be aware that your security profile was compromised and your information was leaked. Dark web monitoring scans the depths of the internet for your personal information and logins and alerts you when it detects passwords or account information that you should change.
The main elements of a secure password
If you want to make your passwords strong and secure, make sure they include all of the following characteristics:
- Random
- Long
- Complex
- Unique
- Safely stored
Unpredictable: If a password is easy for you to remember, chances are it’s also easy for a hacker to guess, particularly with the help of modern computer tools and artificial intelligence (AI). Avoid using common phrases, sequential strings (ABCD, 12345, and so on), or words like your first name or street name that are associated with you.
Long: The minimum character count for a password is just that: a minimum. Using 30 characters in your passwords may not be convenient, but using 12 characters instead of 8 increases the number of possible combinations from 200 billion to 95 quadrillion, meaning even the most advanced hacking software would take several millennia to crack the code.
Complex: Using a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters allows you to create a secure password. Try mixing uppercase letters and special characters into the middle of the password, not just the first or last character.
Unique: Reusing passwords is one of the most dangerous and common bad habits associated with password management. The number of accounts and passwords we need to maintain makes it difficult to ensure each one is unique. Dashlane’s Password Health score feature provides you with a list of your compromised, weak, and reused passwords so you can track your progress as you replace them and improve your security profile.
Randomly generated & safely stored: As you improve your password health, a free password generator can help accelerate the password replacement process. A trusted password manager like Dashlane creates random, unpredictable passwords for your accounts, then encrypts and stores them safely, meaning you no longer need to memorize or track them. These strong, unique passwords can be safely autofilled to boost your productivity.
Generate a random, secure password using our Password Generator today.
Password considerations for 2023
Each year, the latest work and personal computing trends create new challenges and opportunities for password management, and 2023 is no exception. Here are a few of them:
- Working from home: The number of people working primarily from home tripled within three years, and this trend has remained the same post-pandemic. Employers have had to adjust their password security policies accordingly. With more workers using unsecured home or public WiFi, VPN services have also become essential tools for encrypting private information. The Dashlane dashboard, which features the organization-wide Password Health score, helps to maintain a culture of security by regularly monitoring business password security.
- Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Hybrid work environments have accelerated the BYOD trend. When employees use the same devices for both business and personal applications, the ground rules for how, when, and where the device can be used are often unclear. To protect BYOD devices from phishing, theft, and other cyber threats, policies and education are essential. Dashlane Password Manager works with all device types and common operating systems so that password management and protection can be synced universally.
- Mobile devices: As the era of 5G wireless begins, mobile device ownership continues to rise. Most smartphones provide ready access to email addresses, bank accounts, and other confidential information at your fingertips. Screen locks with automatic time-outs and authenticator apps are among the tools used to make device use safe. A password manager also improves and simplifies device security by storing encrypted password data so it can’t be accessed if your device is ever lost or stolen.
The Dashlane app uses biometrics like Face ID to make mobile access a little bit faster and a whole lot safer.
- The evolution of passwords: Passwords have evolved from short, simple phrases to complex, encrypted security keys protecting everything from bank accounts to intellectual property. The technologies enabling this transformation include:
- Improved autofill: Autofill is essential to password security because it eliminates the need to remember and enter long and complex passwords. Dashlane’s Autofill feature includes variable settings and preferences that tailor the autofill experience to the user.
- Cloud security: With the cloud increasing in size and speed, cloud networks have become a model for secure systems. Password managers are adopting cloud innovations like zero-knowledge architecture to ensure user data remains private.
- 2-factor authentication (2FA): Attitudes towards 2FA and multifactor authentication (MFA) continue to shift as users recognize the security benefits of a second and third login at the point of access.
Learn how Dashlane makes it easy to set up and use 2FA for you or your business.
What Dashlane does for password security
Password management solutions from Dashlane include forward-looking security elements, a suite of helpful features, and the intuitive interface needed to meet the challenges of 2023. With secure password sharing, AES-256 encryption, and additional VPN and Dark Web Monitoring tools, Dashlane keeps your passwords secure all year long, wherever you are.
Interested in the future of secure work? Find out key trends, predictions, and recommendations based on hundreds of surveyed employees and decision makers.
References
- Dashlane, “How to Stop Reusing Passwords for Good,” January 2020.
- Dashlane, ”Toothbrushes and Digital Hygiene,” June 2021.
- Dashlane, “Executive Order on Cybersecurity Names Password Managers Critical Software—What It Means for Your Business,” August 2021.
- Dashlane, “What the Hack Is a Brute Force Attack?” February 2020.
- Dashlane, “Executive Order on Cybersecurity Names Password Managers Critical Software—What It Means for Your Business,” August 2021.
- Dashlane, “How Strong Is Your Password & Should You Change It?” August 2022.
- Dashlane, “Resist hacks by using Dashlane's password generator tool,” 2022.
- Dashlane, “Best Way to Store Passwords at Home or Work,” September 2022.
- U.S. Census, “The Number of People Primarily Working From Home Tripled Between 2019 and 2021,” September 2022.
- Dashlane, “Why Do You Need a VPN? Don’t Miss These 3 Key Benefits,” August 2020.
- Pew Research Center, “Mobile phone ownership over time,” April 2021.
- Dashlane, “A Brief History of Passwords,” 2022.
- Dashlane, “Tips & Tricks for Optimizing Dashlane’s Autofill You Might Not Know About,” June 2021.
- Dashlane, “What a Secure System Is & How to Implement It in Your Business,” October 2022.
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