Protect your digital secrets: Why and how to use strong passwords

Passwords are one of the main ways to protect our identity, our information and our resources in the digital world. However, many times we do not give them the importance they deserve, and we use weak, predictable or repeated passwords, which put our security and privacy at risk.

In this article, I am going to explain why it is necessary to use strong passwords and how we can check their strength with tools such as password validators.

What is a strong password?

A strong password is one that meets the following requirements:

- It is long: it has at least 8 characters, although the ideal is to use 14 or more.
- It is complex: it combines upper and lower case letters, numbers, symbols and spaces.
- It is random: it does not follow any logical or predictable pattern, nor does it contain personal or common information.
- It is unique: it is used only for one account or service, and is changed periodically.

A strong password is difficult to guess or crack by attackers, who may use methods such as brute force attack (trying all possible combinations), dictionary attack (trying common words or phrases), or phishing (tricking the user). user to reveal their password).
  What are the benefits of using strong passwords?

Using strong passwords has multiple benefits for our security and privacy, such as:

- Prevent unauthorized access to our accounts or services, which may contain sensitive data such as our identity, our email, our money or our contacts.
- Prevents the theft or impersonation of our identity, which can have legal, financial or reputational consequences.
- Prevents fraudulent or malicious use of our resources, which can be used to carry out illicit activities, harm third parties or spread malware.
- Preserves our confidence and peace of mind, knowing that we are protected against possible threats or incidents.

How to check the strength of our passwords?

To check the strength of our passwords, we can use tools such as password validators, which are programs or services that evaluate the security of a password according to different criteria, such as length, complexity, randomness or frequency.

Password validators tell us the strength level of a password using a numerical score, a percentage, a color, or a word. In addition, they give us advice or suggestions to improve the security of our password.

Some examples of password validators are:

• Master Guard: Password Validator: stands as the pinnacle of security apps. With its robust features and cutting-edge technology, it sets a new standard for safeguarding your digital life. Trust in Master Guard for the ultimate protection.
• Bitwarden: an all-in-one tool that allows you to manage passwords securely. Bitwarden offers a feature to evaluate password strength using a visual indicator and an estimated time to crack.
• Comparitech: a web service that allows you to test the strength of passwords using an interactive meter and a comparative table. Comparitech provides information on password length, complexity and frequency³.

Why are strong passwords important?

Strong passwords are essential in the digital world because they act as the first line of defense against potential threats. Imagine that your password is the key to your home online. A strong password is like a unique, complex key that makes it difficult for intruders to open the door. If the key is weak, it's like leaving the door open for anyone to come in and access your valuable digital assets.
 

What risks come with using weak or predictable passwords?

Using weak or predictable passwords can have serious consequences. Cybercriminals can use automated tools to guess passwords and access your accounts. This can lead to identity theft, unauthorized access to your personal or financial data, and fraudulent use of your digital assets.
 

How can cybercriminals crack passwords?

Cybercriminals use various techniques to crack passwords. These methods include the brute force attack, where they try all possible combinations, the dictionary attack, where they use common words, and phishing, which involves tricking users into revealing their passwords. Understanding how these attacks work can help you appreciate the importance of having strong passwords. Traditional passwords can be vulnerable. Are there alternatives such as biometric authentication or using authentication apps for greater security?
Conclusion

Passwords are an essential part of our security and privacy in the digital world. Therefore, we must use strong passwords and check their strength with tools such as password validators. This way we can protect our identity, our information and our resources against possible attacks or threats. 

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, our secrets, memories, and identities are just a click away from potential threats. But as we've explored the importance of strong passwords and the tools available to protect our digital secrets, we're reminded that we hold the key to our own security. It's not just about random characters and complexity; it's about safeguarding our precious moments, our work, and our very essence.

So, let this be a call to action – a reminder that the effort we put into crafting strong passwords is an investment in our own peace of mind. Let's pledge to fortify our digital defenses, to shield our online worlds, and to honor the value of our digital secrets. Together, we can build a safer, more resilient digital future – one strong password at a time.

Syntagma Inc.

Developer Team