What are Passwords and Authentication?

A password is a word, phrase, or string of characters used with a username or email to gain secure access to an account or other entity. A password is used to prove an identity or authorize access. Authentication is the method of which one truly proves they are who they say. Passwords and authentication can have many different looks; however, it is imperative to follow various rules to ensure they are secure and not easily accessed.

What to Know

Commonly used passwords can easily be guessed by bad actors to gain access to your vital accounts and information. Using simple passwords or having the same password for various accounts can lead you to compromise. On a corporate level, passwords can lead to company information and data being sold for profit or made public.

How you can Protect Yourself:

• 2FA
• Password Manager
• Unique Passwords
• Complex Passwords: 12 characters minimum, mix of uppercase and lowercase, include special characters and numbers
• Don't reuse passwords
• Change passwords on a 90 - 180-day basis
• Educate Others