World Password Day: Fact or Fiction

World Password Day: Fact or Fiction

It’s time to take the pledge to improve your password habits.

Thursday, May 4th, is World Password Day. A day of digital reflection to see if your password habits are actually securing the information you use the password to guard.

In most instances, password users believe they are doing the best they can to improve the security of their information and accounts, but more often than not they are using tips and tricks that are actually creating vulnerabilities for their accounts.

Let’s see where you stand with your password, can you guess if the statements below are fact or fiction?

I can use the same password for many accounts, especially if it is really complex.

Fiction. I know it may be easy to use the same password for all your accounts so that you can remember it better, but it actually increases your chances of being vulnerable in the digital space if you do.

It doesn’t matter if your password has a capital letter, lowercase letter, number, symbol and hidden rhyme, if someone hacks a website that you use the password for and gains entry into their user database, your complex password isn’t very useful anymore. They can take the data stolen from the website to try to gain entry into other accounts you might use, like your email, social media accounts and even online banking accounts.

Using two-factor authentication decreases my chances of being hacked.

Fact. The use of two-factor authentication has been growing as of lately. You might have been prompted to use it for a Gmail account recently. It works by adding another layer of security to your account.

With Gmail, when you tell your laptop or desktop computer that you want to log into an account, it automatically sends a code to your mobile device. Once you receive that code, you can type it into the field on the computer. This lets the website know that you are more likely to be the person you say you are if you have possession of a secondary device linked to the account.

I should change my password every 30 days.

Fiction. Although this is good advice for high-risk accounts, it isn’t the best policy for the average user. Requiring frequent password changes usually results in weaker and weaker passwords as the users struggles to find the happy place between remembering a new password and figuring out new ideas.

Rather than limit the password by age, try to focus on stronger passwords and better user awareness. You should still look to change your password every now and then, but maybe try every three months so you don’t burn out so quickly.

Featured

  • Unlocking the Possibilities

    Security needs continue to evolve and end users are under pressure to address emerging risks and safety concerns. For many, that focus starts with upgrading perimeter openings and layering technologies—beginning at the door. Read Now

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.