Password Protection
Passwords provide the first line of defence against unauthorized access to your computer and personal information. The stronger your password, the more protected your computer will be from hackers and malicious software. You should maintain strong passwords for all accounts on your computer.
There are a number of methods criminals can employ to crack passwords, including:
- Intercepting them as they are transmitted over the network.
- Brute force - automated guessing of millions of passwords.
- Physically stealing them, for example when they are written down close to a device.
- Searching IT infrastructure for stored password information.
- Manual guessing based on easily accessible personal information (e.g. name, date of birth).
- Shoulder surfing – observing people typing in their passwords in public places.
- Social engineering – tricking people into handing over passwords.
- Key-logging malware which records passwords as they are entered.
Passwords that are easily cracked tend to include:
- Your actual or user name.
- Place names
- Family members’ or pets’ names / birthdays.
- Single dictionary words
- Personal information such as your date or place of birth.
- Favourite sports teams or other things relevant to your interests.
- Numerical or keyboard sequences (e.g. qwerty, 12345).