Here’s the security experts’ rule for having the world’s strongest password against hackers
While the complexity of the password is critical, there’s another, more important factor
Some people believe that their information is of no interest to cybercriminals or that they won’t be affected by a cyberattack. However, this assumption is incorrect.
Cybercriminals are looking for any type of data, from banking details to those that could trigger the leakage of highly sensitive information. Therefore, it is imperative to take the protection of one’s information seriously, and a fundamental step is the creation of a strong password.
A frequent question is the preference between a long password or a short one. The complexity of the answer lies in the importance of length for digital security. A longer password length complicates the task of hackers to decode it.
So, the concern arises about the appropriate length, to which computer security specialists have devoted attention to determine an answer.
Security specialists say that the length of the password is crucial to protect information. They recommend that passwords should have a minimum of 12 characters, with longer passwords being preferable. This is because short passwords can be breached with techniques such as brute force attacks.
The latter are methods used by cybercriminals to crack passwords, consisting of systematically trying all possible combinations of letters, numbers and symbols until they find the correct one that allows unauthorized access to an account or system.
This type of attack exploits weaknesses in short or simple passwords, being more effective against them than against complex and long passwords.
According to Joshua Davis, a research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute in the United States, eight-character passwords are insufficient and can be cracked in a matter of minutes.
Creators of well-known password management applications, such as Bitwarden and 1Password, recommend that optimal passwords should contain 14 to 16 characters or even more, and advise that for ordinary users, passwords should be between 11 and 15 characters long.
NordPass and Windows experts suggest that passwords contain at least 12 characters, with 16 being the ideal length. They also stress the importance of including a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols to increase password strength.
Tips for an infallible password
There are programs that generate passwords with random characters that meet the above requirements. Another option is to create your own password. To do this, you can use a phrase or sentence that is easy to remember but difficult to guess.
For example: instead of using the phrase “My car is blue”, users can opt for “M1 4ut0 e5 45ul” and combine it with numbers or symbols as well as make use of uppercase letters.
Safeguarding personal data in the digital environment is essential. To this end, a fundamental action is to establish a password that has a minimum of 12 characters, being preferable a longer length, as advised by security specialists.
Other cybersecurity recommendations
In addition to a strong password, other security measures can be followed such as:
-Using two-factor authentication (2FA), which adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second method of verification.
-Change passwords regularly and do not reuse them for different accounts or services.
-Keep software and operating systems updated to fix security vulnerabilities.
-Avoid clicking on links or downloading files from unknown sources to prevent malware.
-Make regular backups of important data.
-Use virtual private networks (VPNs) when connecting to public networks to encrypt Internet traffic.
-Be cautious with personal information shared on social networks and other online platforms.
-Regularly monitor account logins and review permissions for applications and services.