Technology
Tips: How to Build a Strong Password
(Capital OTC) – Following the numerous data breaches that took place in 2014, one would expect people to be more concerned about online security. However, according to SplashData’s Annual “Worst Passwords” list, people are as negligent with their passwords as they have ever been. In 2014, 3.3 million passwords were hacked, and a report from SplashData is here to help you stay away from that number with some dos and don’ts.
A bad password is defined as an easy target for hackers or identity thieves, such as number sequences and pet names. This year, “123456” and “password” remained in the top of the list. Top 10 revealed easy words like “qwerty,” “dragon,” and “football” as passwords preferred by an overwhelming majority.
Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData is shocked how weak passwords based on obvious patterns are still popular among so many users. As long as it’s a pattern password, you should not be using it. Even though more and more websites require longer passwords and combinations (letters, numbers, special characters), that does not mean it makes them stronger, if you’re still using keyboard patterns, such as “1qaz2wsx” (which is the first two columns of numbers and letters on the keyboard) or “qwertyuiop” (which is the top row of letters).
