Compromised passwords are responsible for 81% of all data breaches. Compromised passwords impact both individuals and organizations, resulting in data loss or reputation and financial loss.
Crowe MacKay's Technology Consulting experts share how the future of passwords is changing and what actions you need to take to keep your personal and business accounts secure. If you require assistance, connect with us in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, or the Yukon.
The Current Password Landscape
Strong password policies are standard in the enterprise world. Most organizations enforce strong password policies and educate employees on password best practices. As an extra measure, password management solutions are deployed to help employees cope with the hassle of creating multiple passwords. They come with their own set of vulnerabilities and issues, which are discussed in more detail below.
Most strong passwords, even with the added complexity of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, are not difficult to crack. A lucky guess with some light doxing could make you vulnerable. It’s really not your fault; passwords are meant to be remembered, and that’s what makes them predictable.
There is too much individual responsibility and blame on you. You are not supposed to use easy-to-guess passwords like “P@$$w0rd!” or reuse your passwords on multiple sites. It is impossible for an individual to create and remember hundreds of complex passwords. Requiring that you create a unique, complicated password on tens or hundreds of digital accounts is error-prone and hugely annoying. Most advice you hear about passwords from security experts is unrealistic, scolding and, in many cases, outdated.
In the long term, passwords will be replaced by one-time passcodes, fingerprints, and face recognition as proof that you are who you claim to be. More and more websites are adopting these techniques to replace passwords.
However, for now we recommend you use one of the techniques below to add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
