Believe it or not, it’s 2023, and “123456” and “password” are still in the top 10 most frequently used passwords.
Now, you probably know that choosing such passwords is the digital equivalent of opening the door to your own house to a burglar.
But creating a strong password goes beyond the obvious ‘don’t use 123456‘ advice.
Here are three common password pitfalls small business owners often fall into and what you can do instead to avoid potential security breaches.
❌ Using Obvious Personal Information
In order to create memorable combinations for their websites, many people still choose to link them to something that they can easily recall.
While using personal information such as your name, birthday, or the name of your business might make passwords easy to remember, they’re also easy for hackers to guess.
This information is often readily available online, making your password’s security compromised from the get-go.
✅ What to do instead:
Create passwords that are a mix of random, unrelated words and characters. These are much harder to guess.
But if you’re worried that you won’t be able to remember your passwords, a trick you could try is this:
Create a cipher for your password by shifting to the neighboring keys on your keyboard while typing it.
With this little trick, your beloved pet’s name “Goldfish,Gary” turns into “Hp;fgodj.Hstu” as your password.
❌ Reusing Passwords
It’s tempting to reuse the same password across multiple platforms to avoid the hassle of remembering different ones.
However, if one account gets compromised, all accounts with that password are immediately at risk.
✅ What to do instead:
Use a unique password for every platform or service you use.
Yes, this means having a lot of different passwords, but password managers can help manage this burden by securely storing your passwords and auto-filling them when needed.
❌ Creating Short Passwords
The shorter your password, the easier it is for hackers to crack it.
Passwords with just a few characters can be figured out in a matter of seconds with the right software.
✅ What to do instead:
Longer passwords are generally more secure. Aim for a password that’s at least 14-16 characters long.
These are much more difficult for hacking tools to decipher.
In the age of increasing cyber threats, password security should not be an afterthought.
By avoiding these common password mistakes, you can significantly enhance your business’s online security.
