As we are all becoming more dependent on technology, creating strong passwords is essential for every user, especial for organisations. With cyber-attacks on the rise, weak passwords can make you an easy target for hackers, phishing, and ransomware.
Strong passwords can help prevent cyberattacks and data loss. However, using simple passwords such as “1234” or “password” is huge red flag. Hackers tend to use automated tools that can guess weak passwords in seconds. A strong password, on the other hand, takes years to crack with brute-force methods.
The Attack on a 158-Year-Old Company
Down below is an example of the consequences of using weak passwords from a recent BBC News article.
Back in 2023, the 158-year-old company known as KNP which ran up to 500 lorries under the name Knights of Old, had their system hacked by a group of hackers called Akira. This group blocked the organisation’s access to all their private data behind a digital paywall. This resulted in 700 of their employees being put out of work.
Read full article here: https://tinyurl.com/yrxhdamv
According to cyber security experts, there are some possible causes that lead to this incident:
- No multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Poor password choice, allowing hackers to easily guess a weak password
- Failed backups, making restoration impossible
There are many ways to avoid mistakes like these:
- Use strong, unique passwords, while using different numbers and characters
- Enable MFA at all times
- Use a password manager to store credentials securely
- Train your employees to help them learn how to respond to cyber threats
For both organisations and customers, utilising strong passwords can help prevent your data from being easily accessed by hackers and scammers across the internet.
Whether you’re a small business or a customer, password strength. Always consider using a strong password manager, enable MFA and regularly audit accounts.
