A lack of password security can have huge consequences for a company if malicious actors target its workers. Employees are often the most common attack target when malicious actors try to steal a company’s information because regular workers may not be as prepared as they should be for an attack to come their way. Something as simple as an employee using credentials across two accounts can be all a malicious actor needs to get into a company’s network and begin a cyberattack.
Do Not Repeat Passwords
While it can be tedious to constantly think of new credentials each time you are asked to change them, employees must create new and unique credentials each time they reset. This is because if a website experiences a data breach, your information may get into the hands of malicious actors, and if they notice a pattern in your data, then they have a better chance of accessing your current credentials. Information like this is often sold on the dark web, so a password variation you have been using for two or five years has a higher chance of being on the dark web and building up a trail for hackers to follow to your current information.
Never Cross Accounts
When an attack is successful and malicious gain access to one set of your credentials, they will then begin plugging those credentials into other websites. This makes a bad situation become much worse – especially if your work and personal credentials begin to cross. In the worst-case scenario, malicious actors could harvest your work credentials through a phishing attack and then gain access to your bank account because the two accounts shared a password. By making a unique password for every account, you lower the risk of one successful attack spreading to other areas of your personal life and workplace.
Use a Password Manager
Most people repeat credentials and use them across accounts because creating a new, secure password for every account and every reset has become tedious and often a difficult task. A password manager can help in this situation because it will automatically generate unique credentials and securely store them for use. A password manager can autofill your credentials when logging into an account, and they will typically work well across platforms. This means credentials you create on your phone will still autofill on your desktop. While a manager won’t replace other critical security tools, it can improve your personal and professional security posture.
Summary
While passwords may seem tedious at times, they are crucial to personal and professional security. Without proper password hygiene, you put both your personal and company information at risk. Here at Robinett Consulting, we appreciate good credential habits and the use of password managers because they are a small part of our daily digital lives that can make or break a security breach. If you want more information on how to best secure your business network, then reach out to our team today, and we can get your business running safely!
