Blog

ATECH MSP Blog

ATECH MSP has been serving the Bakersfield area since 2009, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Tip of the Week: How ‘StarWars’ Can Compromise Your Data’s Security

Tip of the Week: How ‘StarWars’ Can Compromise Your Data’s Security

If you think about it, password security is an interesting phenomenon. The odds are that a user knows the importance of using a strong password, as well as the potential consequences of using weak ones. Yet, time after time, people would rather go with passwords that are easy to type and remember, as opposed to adding a few simple security measures.

According to an annual compilation list published by Splashdata, the worst passwords of 2017 were “password” and “123456”. These two security nightmares have been in the #1 and #2 positions, respectively, since at least 2010 - when Splashdata released their first survey. “12345678”, “qwerty” and “12345” round out the top five. The highest ranking newcomer on the list was “starwars”, which debuted at #16. You can find the rest of the 100 Worst Passwords of 2017 here.

A quick Google search of ‘best practices’ for creating a secure password will reveal that there is no shortage of experts and publications that have their own recommendations and guidelines. The following tips were adapted from the guidelines recommended by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, or US-CERT. (Note: US-CERT is an entity of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that was created specifically for the safety and security of the Internet and to protect against cybersecurity threats.)

Many times, a password will have to meet the security requirements of a specific site or application. Do your best to keep these tips in mind when developing your password.

  1. Use different passwords on different systems and accounts.
  2. Don't use passwords that are based on personal information that can be easily accessed or guessed.
  3. Use a combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
  4. Don't use words that can be found in any dictionary of any language.
  5. Develop mnemonics (or spoken memory tricks) such as passphrases for remembering complex passwords.
  6. Consider using a password manager program to keep track of your passwords.

One more thing that Atech MSP would like to point out is that businesses should never underestimate the importance of stressing Internet security best practices - including password safety - to their employees. Do you have any password or security tips that you’d like to share? Sound off in the comments below.

Contact Us For More Information

  • First Name *
  • Last Name *
  • Phone *
  • Comments:
        Improperly Disposing of a Hard Drive Can Threaten ...
        North Korea Suspected as Responsible for WannaCry ...
         

        Comments

        No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
        Guest
        Already Registered? Login Here
        Tuesday, 05 November 2024

        Captcha Image

        Customer Login


        Latest Blog

        Atech MSP is proud to announce the launch of our new website at www.atechmsp.com. The goal of the new website is to make it easier for our existing clients to submit and manage support requests, and provide more information about our services for ...

        Contact Us

        Learn more about what Atech MSP can do for your business.

        Atech MSP
        3434 Truxtun Ave Suite 250
        Bakersfield, California 93301