October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
During this month, IBSS will share techniques to help you stay safe online. This blog will focus on multi-factor authentication, how to create robust passwords, and why you should adopt a password administrator.
What is multi-factor authentication?
Did you know that multi-factor authentication (MFA) thwarts over 99.9% of account takeover endeavors by adding another layered credential check in addition to entering your correct password (Source: Alex Weinert, Group Program Manager for Identity Security and Protection at Microsoft).
MFA is especially important for accounts that have sensitive personal or financial data. Most online platforms require users to activate MFA across a range of platforms like SMS, email, phone call, authenticator app, or physical token. Resources such as TurnOn2FA provide guidance on instituting MFA for major sites.
MFA provides a strong protection against hackers trying to obtain information through phishing emails or other means. As password cracking techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so is the use of MFA to provide security against account breaches?
How to create robust passwords
Robust passwords include length, case variation, symbols, and uniqueness across accounts. According to Google, 66% of Americans reuse passwords, making it easy to be hacked.
Follow these step-by-step guidelines to create your robust password:
- Password Length Matters: Longer passwords are more secure. Use at least 12-16 characters. Consider using passphrases, which are a sequence of words or a sentence that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
- Distinctive: It’s important to use distinct passwords for each of your accounts. Try to avoid any repetition or reuse of passwords. This approach guarantees that even if one of your accounts is breached, your other accounts remain safeguarded. Strive for true distinctiveness and avoid changing a single character or appending a “2” at the end. Make sure none of your passwords are similar.
- Elaborate: Every distinct password should include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (such as > or !). Maintain a minimum length of 16 characters for each password. Certain websites and applications might even permit the inclusion of spaces for added security.
Do you use a password manager?
Password managers are important if you use multiple online platforms. They provide the ability to store, create, and automatically fill strong passwords. Leading password managers are: LastPass, Dashlane, 1Password, Bitwarden, and KeePass.
With our day-to-day activities and the use of multiple online platforms, it is difficult to keep track of all your passwords. Using a password manager can save you time and keep you from locking your account. Additionally, password managers offer device synchronization features that ensure access across platforms. To bridge the gap between security and user convenience, password managers are a necessary tool.
Adopting strong passwords, MFA, and using password managers are tools you can use to protect your accounts while increasing cybersecurity. The next installment of our Cybersecurity Awareness Month series will elaborate on ways to enhance cybersecurity while exploring more methods to strengthen online security.
Sources:
Password managers: using browsers and apps to safely store… – NCSC.GOV.UK
Yes, You Need a Password Manager. Your Online Security Depends on It – CNET
