Password Manager Software Developer Dashlane has released a third version of its annual ranking “Worst Password Offenders.” This list includes those users and organizations that commit the most violations when working with passwords.
In 2018, cryptoinvestors took the third place in the Dashlane rating. The Pentagon also entered the top 3 (the agency was located on the 2nd line), and Google ranked the top 10.
According to Dashlane, currently the number of passwords that the average Internet user should manage is at the level of 200. According to company forecasts, by 2023 this figure will increase to 400.
“Passwords are the first line of defense against cyber attacks. Weak and reusable passwords, as well as poor organization password management, can easily put sensitive information at risk. A huge number of accounts that require a password means that everyone can make the mistakes that our rating members make. We hope that our list will serve as a wake-up call that will encourage everyone to follow the best password protection practices , ”said Dashlane head Emmanuel Schalit.
To enhance the protection of accounts, Dashlane recommends adhering to the three main safety rules:
- Make sure that all accounts are password protected, including email accounts, servers, applications and anything that may contain sensitive personal data. The presence of a strong password is often the only line of protection between user data and hackers.
- Use complex passwords so that the hacker cannot guess them by examining the available information about the user. Ideally, passwords should not contain names and proper proper names, which can be easily associated with the user, as well as easily recognizable number sequences, such as date of birth. All passwords must contain more than 8 characters and combine letters, numbers and symbols.
- Avoid using the same passwords in different accounts. Each account must be protected by a unique password. This will reduce the risk of hacking multiple accounts at once.
It is worth noting that password management in the cryptosphere is an even more difficult task than in other industries. After the cryptocurrencies were actively growing last year, some investors tried in vain to recall the long forgotten passwords to the cryptographic wallet . Some of them even turned to hypnotists for help to extract valuable data from their subconscious. A user of the exchange CryptoPay sent the company a bomb for refusing to change the password.
