Is My Password Secure? Beginner’s Guide To Password Security

Last updated on December 9th, 2024 at 01:29 pm

Concerned About Your Privacy Online? Read The Article Should I Use a VPN? Find Out Why VPNs Are Important

Many of the things we do online require passwords, whether it’s to access our bank accounts, shop online, or sign up for streaming services like Amazon Prime Video. Hackers are aware of this, which is why there have been so many data breaches in recent years.

If you are concerned about your passwords, don’t worry—you have come to the right place. In this beginner’s guide, you will learn about the basics of password security, and later on, you will learn the best ways to secure your passwords.

Password security is a set of guidelines and practices that can help you protect your files, accounts, and devices from unauthorized access by ensuring that only those with the correct password can gain access. Password security is a crucial component of cybersecurity and is the first line of defense against hackers.

Password security is important for numerous reasons that affect our lives. It’s a core component that’s essential in safeguarding our sensitive data which can be disastrous if obtained by cyber criminals. Passwords protect our critical data, and it offers necessary protection from identity theft and various forms of fraud.

These are the variety of techniques that cybercriminals can use to hack passwords:

• Brute-Force Attacks – One of the most common methods used to hack passwords, brute-force attacks are a trial-and-error method that relies on hackers trying every possible combination until the correct password is found.
• Social Engineering – Hackers use social engineering tactics by pretending to be another person in order to gain unauthorized access and steal information. Hackers may send fake emails or texts that look legitimate to trick the user into providing sensitive data.
• Keyloggers – These software programs are able to record every keystroke made on your computer, including your passwords. Even though keyloggers can be used by someone with good intentions, these programs are notoriously used by hackers for malicious purposes.
• Credential Stuffing – This type of cyberattack involves a hacker using stolen or leaked usernames and passwords (obtained in data breaches or purchased from the dark web) to log in to different user accounts. Users who reuse their passwords are the most susceptible to these cyberattacks.

The simplest way of checking if your passwords are leaked is by visiting haveibeenpwned.com. This website has a free tool that you can use to see if your data has been leaked. To use this tool, just input your email address, then click “pwned?“. You will then see a message informing you if your credentials have been leaked.

Weak passwords can be easily cracked and can put your sensitive data at risk. A study from Verizon discovered that 81% of data breaches were caused by the use of weak passwords. When you use a weak password, it gives cyber-criminals a free invitation to access your private credentials.

Hackers can easily figure out short passwords that lack complexity, as well as ones that use personal details. These passwords can be exploited through data breaches and other cyber-attacks.

Here are some examples of weak passwords that many people often use. If your password looks similar, immediately change your password:

• admin
• qwerty
• 12345
• abc123
• password
• 123123
• asdfgh
• 654321

If you found out your password was compromised in a data breach, here are some steps you can take to prevent any further damage from happening to you.

Make Your Password Unique

If your accounts use the same email and password, a cybercriminal can just obtain one set of credentials and use it on multiple accounts until they successfully hack your accounts.

Make sure that you use unique and long passwords so you can minimize any potential damage that could happen if your password is leaked. If you need help with making strong passwords, use a password generator tool from NordPass.

Use A VPN

Using a VPN is a great way to keep your devices safe from hackers. A VPN uses strong encryption to prevent cyber criminals from reading your private data transmissions, which could include your private credentials. To learn more about the benefits of VPNs, read the article Should I Use A VPN? Find Out Why VPNs Are Important.

Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) can help protect your sensitive data and safeguard your online account and devices from unauthorized access. If you have 2FA, you’ll be asked to input a one-time code after you log in to your account. This code can be sent to your phone, email, or authenticator app.

This makes it substantially difficult for hackers to access your account because even if the hacker has your password, they will still need to retrieve the one-time code that was sent to your account or device.

Use A Password Manager

Password managers are great tools that can help you keep track of your passwords. These tools use encryption to store and generate complex passwords for all of your accounts online.

When you use a password manager, you won’t need to remember all of your passwords, because you only need a single master password to unlock the rest of your credentials. Most password managers automatically fill in login fields, providing plenty of convenience.

If you need full-featured password security, NordPass is one of the safest password managers around. NordPass allows you to save an unlimited number of passwords with just one click, so you don’t have to worry about your account running out of storage. Not sure how many times you reused an old password? With the Password Health tool, you can instantly identify old, weak, and reused passwords.

NordPass uses the cutting-edge XChaCha20 encryption algorithm, which means that you can sleep well knowing that your sensitive credentials are fully secure. With Passkey support, you can enjoy a safer and more convenient way to securely access your online accounts. If you need a password manager that you can fully rely on, NordPass is for you.