Passwords have become a part of modern life. We use them every day to identify ourselves online for work and home. In the early days of computing you had maybe one or two passwords, however as the internet grew and companies began offering their goods, software, and services online, it’s likely you have passwords you don’t remember you even have.
Do you end up reusing passwords just to keep it simple? You are not alone – this is a common practice. The problem with this commonality is it presents a big security risks for everyone, including your employer. So, if a hacker gets access to your password for your personal bank account, it’s very likely that the hacker could use your password to access multiple logins – including your workplace accounts.
Passwords are a way to “authenticate” or identify that a person is who they say they are. For that reason, they need to be secret only to you. Protect the things you value by understanding how passwords work and how to protect them. A Quick Guide To Ethical Hacking & Top Hacking Tools
How do hackers get passwords and what are their methods? We’ll discuss a few and ways that you can protect your data from hackers:
Perform system maintenance regularly. Make sure that you are applying patches at the operating system, application, and systems level on consistent schedule. Missing one patch means that an attacker can exploit that vulnerability the next day. It’s something that must be done regularly.
Use sophisticated detection, prevention and monitoring software. Patching your systems isn’t enough. You must have software on your network and devices that is looking for suspicious behavior and that software has to come from trusted companies who constantly monitor global threats and update their signatures of attacks.
Use multi-factor authentication. Anytime it’s available, accounts should be secured by more than a password.
Use a password manager. Never reuse passwords. A good password manager can generate passwords for you, make the available wherever you need. When you do this, your secrets are safe.
Educate your team. While systems and software and polices are good, they are only as good as the people who know your passwords. Make sure you have a constant source of education and re-education of people who use your systems. Then test regularly. Employees need to know and see examples of threats, so they know what to look for. For this, they can join best Ethical online class.
Don't click on links in emails. Phishing is when a hacker sends out volumes of fake emails saying there's a problem with your account, a special deal you can get, or anything else designed to entice you to click on a link. Spear phishing is similar, but targeted just at you and is often more personal and even more enticing.
The link is to a fake account page where they hope you'll type in your real password so they can get it. Never click a link in any email asking you to enter your login information anywhere
Of course, with enough effort, hackers can bypass nearly any preventative measures you make with a variety of tools. But small steps like these can be an effective way to deter hackers from making your life miserable.
