For some time, passwords have helped guard personal information, whether that be for your laptop, mobile phone. bank details etc. It is the oldest and most prevalent form of authentication, but ‘weak’ passwords are susceptible to being hacked.
Billions of login credentials are stolen by hackers every year with compromised passwords being used to execute data breaches. As the search for a more secure authentication method continues, biometric technology is quickly emerging as a potential replacement for passwords. Biometric authentication verifies a user’s identity using their biological characteristics.
Security experts anticipate biometrics (fingerprint, face, iris, palm, etc.) to be more widely integrated into continuous authentication mechanisms. Continuous authentication uses other compatible authentication strategies, such as biometrics, to verify a user’s identity on an ongoing, real-time basis.
Guide To Secure Passwords and Logins
Despite their weaknesses, passwords can be a secure authentication method if applied correctly. And because passwords are still very popular, it will be challenging to replace them with emerging authentication technologies. At the moment, technologies such as biometrics and continuous authentication can only be used to complement passwords.
The only thing you can do right now is to ensure that your passwords are secure. Here are several tips to help improve your password security.
Use Strong Passwords
Use strong passwords to deter brute force attacks. If you want your password to be hard to hack, make it long (at least 15 characters) and use a mix of characters (uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols). A random password generator is a useful free tool to use that will help you create strong passwords.
Use Unique Passwords
It is best practice to use unique passwords for each online account and avoid reusing previous passwords. Using the same password for more than one account greatly increases the risk because if there’s a breach and your login credentials are compromised, attackers could easily gain access to your other accounts.
Use a Password Manager
A password manager is an online utility that keeps track of all your passwords so that you don’t have to remember all of them. Instead, you only have to memorize one, the password to your password manager. Most password managers come with a built-in random password generator and encryption for protection from potential threats.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become the industry standard for adequate security. MFA adds a layer of extra protection to your password by using a secondary authenticating factor such as a PIN, a question, phone call, or biometrics.
Use VPN to Further Secure Your Online Activities
In addition to all these password best practices, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to further secure your passwords online. A VPN encrypts your traffic and masks your IP address, which means hackers can’t use Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attacks to steal your password. To browse the internet more securely try a VPN trial and securely protect your personal information.
Even with new, more reliable authentication technologies emerging, security experts expect passwords to hang around a little longer. The good news is that when used correctly and stored securely, passwords can be every bit as secure. Follow these password security best practices to ensure your passwords are as secure as possible.
