by Alba Blue, 07/11/24 - https://alba.blue/#about
Abstract :
This article emphasizes the critical importance of strong passwords in 2024 due to the advancements that have been made regarding computing power and sophisticated hacking tools. It provides practical advice from different sources, discusses the merits of password managers, and gives some real-world examples for solid password security. We also discuss the added security benefits of using a VPN.
As we progress through 2024, robust password security has become more crucial than ever. The rise in computing power and sophisticated hacking tools necessitates stronger, more complex passwords to protect our digital lives. Recent studies from Hive Systems, Le Parisien, and IT-Connect highlight these evolving threats and provide insights into effective password strategies.
According to Hive Systems (2024), advancements in GPU technology have made it much quicker for hackers to crack passwords. Their research indicates that a simple 8-character password, even when mixed with uppercase, lowercase letters, and numbers, can be cracked in a matter of minutes. In contrast, a 12-character password with a mix of four different types of characters (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols) can take up to 300 years to crack. This demonstrates the exponential increase in security with added complexity and length.
Insights from Le Parisien
Le Parisien's article supports these findings, it shows the vulnerability of shorter passwords. They report that passwords with fewer than six characters can be cracked almost instantly. Even an 8-character password, if not sufficiently complex, can be compromised in less than five minutes. This underscores the importance of not only length but also the diversity of characters used in passwords to ensure maximum security (Le Parisien, 2024).
Real-World Example: The 2012 LinkedIn Breach
In 2012, LinkedIn experienced a massive data breach where over 117 million passwords were stolen and subsequently leaked online. The majority of these passwords were weak, with many users employing simple and common passwords like "123456" and "password" (Schwartz, 2016). This breach highlighted the critical need for stronger, more complex passwords.
France Num provides practical advice on choosing strong passwords. They recommend using passwords with at least 14 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. They also emphasize the importance of using different passwords for different applications and employing password managers to maintain security (France Num, 2024).
In addition to creating strong passwords, France Num highlights the importance of using password managers. These tools store and encrypt passwords, allowing users to manage multiple complex passwords without the need to remember each one individually. This not only enhances security but also simplifies the process of maintaining strong, unique passwords across various accounts (France Num, 2024).