Why You Need to Update Your Password Immediately
Today's digital age revolves around passwords. Whether it's accessing your office, bank account, or entertainment, passwords are the basic gatekeepers of our lives. A compromised password can have severe consequences for individuals, as hackers are constantly working to breach security.
The threat is real, with thousands of hackers tirelessly attempting to crack passwords using various tools, including open market hardware and software. In fact, a staggering three billion passwords have already been compromised.
Recently, Specops Software, a Sweden-based password management company, conducted a study on password security. They used Hashcat password recovery software with an Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card, renowned for its speed. The study revealed that a password's security depends on its length and complexity. A 22-character password, containing a mix of lowercase, uppercase, numerical, and symbol characters, was deemed the most secure.
Currently, many people are using 8-digit passwords, often a combination of characters and numbers, with some including symbols. However, even such complicated combinations can be cracked in approximately three hours.
Moreover, password cracking now benefits from the assistance of artificial intelligence, making passwords even more vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, it's essential for individuals to choose strong passwords that suit their needs, employing a sufficient number and variety of characters.
Typically, passwords rarely exceed 10 characters, but to bolster security, it is advised to opt for at least 12 characters, incorporating uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
Shafat Qazi, the founder of BQE Software in the US, highlighted the urgency of the situation by stating that most passwords can be hacked in 31 seconds or less. He emphasized the importance of taking action immediately by upgrading all passwords to a minimum of 12 characters, with a diverse combination of characters and symbols.
It is crucial for organizations storing people's data to allow individuals the flexibility to change, improve, and upgrade their passwords. While most organizations are password protected, clients often neglect to prioritize their password security. Taking this step can significantly enhance overall cybersecurity and protect individuals from potential breaches.
