Miko
Current Event Posting Number 2
Technology
Title: If you're using' Password1,' change it. Now.
Publication Name: CNN
Author: Stacy Cowly
Date of Publication: March 5, 2012
Length: 1 page
Many people and big companies look to use simple password that fit the criteria of having an uppercase letter and a number. So many fortune 500 companies are resorting to simple passwords such as: "Password1." Hackers have caught onto this trick and have been making their way onto the system. Another way hackers have been attacking individuals is through ones smart phone. But less than 20% of intrusions were discovered until it was too late. A few companies discovered that a lot of their break ins went undetected until notified by the authorities. Some tips that may help in ones security include: making your password longer, or interchanging letters with symbols. A seven character combination has 70 trillion possible combinations while an eight character password has more than 6 quadrillion combinations! So in this case, longer is better. The battle between user and hackers still continue, with both sides changing constantly to keep up with one another
In summary, hackers don't need some elaborate algorithm to get into someones account, or system, they just need some common sense. There are ways to battle these hackers by updating your passwords. Remember; the longer the better. With this constant war against the hackers of the world, you need to keep your information on check.
People need to stop being lazy and start using longer passwords. Password1 just won't cut it. If a seven-character password has 70 trillion possible combinations, then imagine what a 12-character password would have? Then people would have to start using their complex algorithms to guess the passwords, or keylogger viruses and things like that. Then hackers would become more feared and respected. But if people are dumb enough to use password1, there is nothing to fear from these hackers because they are just exploiting human laziness.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the main problem is the stubbornness of the people who don't want to remember a code. I think a good solution to this problem is to start fingerprint scanning. The technology is already available, I happen to have a scanner that plugs in with usb, but it needs to be built in to computers for the convenience people desire.
DeleteAlthough simple passwords are easy to remember and often fit the criteria, they are also easy for hackers to figure out. Because so many people use such easy passwords as Password1, hackers have been able to break in to many systems. Unfortunately, not very many of these hacks are stopped or even detected before they go to completion, so passwords need to be changed. Longer passwords with interchanged letters and symbols is definitely the way to go to ensure protection.
ReplyDeleteMany Fortune 500 companies have been lulled into a false sense of security that they don't need elaborate passwords to protect their information, and think that things such as "Password1" will suffice. However, hackers were quick to catch onto this trick, and have started hacking into all sorts of systems and databases. Companies are constantly at war with hackers; they try to keep their systems and information secure, and the hackers try to break into their databases. One simple way for companies to stop potentially devastating hacks is to make their passwords longer or interchange symbols and numbers. This may not stop the most determined hackers, but when combined with more advances security systems, longer passwords will keep everyone's electronics much more secure. In the world of technology, a little effort goes a long way.
ReplyDelete