Watch 4 'Password Pep Talks' starring Betty White (because Today is World Password Day)

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 05 May 2016

Passwords – they protect your online accounts, your private information, your digital identity, your social media, and a lot of other things that you couldn’t live without. That’s why you should pick properly strong passwords, efficiently manage all your passwords, and make sure your passwords are protected against snoopers and cybercriminals.

Today is World Password Day. Observed on the first Thursday in May, it is a global celebration that promotes better password habits and highlights the need to secure your digital life. For World Password Day 2016, you are invited to get some password motivation by watching these "password pep talk" videos starring Betty White.

1. Friendly Advice



Picking a properly strong password is the first step towards securing your digital life. And back in the day, it was more than enough. Today, it isn’t. Even strong passwords can be compromised, and that’s why you need to enable multi-factor authentication.

On a computer, it works like this:
  • Enter your username and password to log into your account.
  • A code will be sent to you; enter this code to confirm that you’re the one trying to access your account and thus complete the login procedure.
Thanks to multi-factor authentication, even if your password is compromised and ends up in a bad guy’s hands, he won’t be able to use the password to break into your account.


2. Love is a battlefield



You should never share your password with someone else, says Kapsersky Lab, and definitely not with your partner or spouse, says Intel Security.

According to Kaspersky Lab, nearly half of internet users shared their passwords with somebody or left them visible for people to see. “Consumers need to be more cyber-savvy about passwords. Once shared, it is very difficult to know exactly where your password will end up," said David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab.

"No one would expect a friend or family member to knowingly divulge a password, but by sharing passwords, consumers are increasing the risk of them falling into the wrong hands. This could give cybercriminals easy access to personal and financial information and hacked accounts can be used to distribute malicious links and files, harming others. At worst, entire identities could be put at risk. Even the most complex password is weak if it’s visible to others, so keep it to yourself."

According to Intel Security (previously McAfee), the chances of your ex engaging in revenge tactics after a breakup are quite high. And knowing your passwords will only make their job easier. So keep your passwords to yourself! And if you shared them with an ex, change them ASAP!

When you’re ready to start dating again, take heed to these online dating security tips. And try not to fall for an online dating chatbot.


3. It’s time for some #realtalk



Worth over an estimated hundred billion US dollars, the video games industry is big business that attracts millions of people from around the world. Unfortunately, it also attracts a lot of bad guys.

Kaspersky Lab recently announced that it discovered nearly 1,200 samples of different Steam Stealers, malware that's been attacking tens of thousands of users around the world.

"The gaming community has become a highly desirable target for cybercriminals," said Santiago Pontiroli, Global Research & Analysis Team, Kaspersky Lab. “There has been a clear evolution in the techniques used for infection and propagation, as well as the growing complexity of the malware itself, which has led to an increase in this type of activity. With gaming consoles adding more powerful components and the Internet of Things on our doorstep, this scenario looks like one that will continue to play out and become more complex. At Kaspersky Lab, we hope that our research will develop into an ongoing investigation, bringing a much-needed balance to the gaming ecosystem. Security should not be something developers think about afterwards but at an early stage of the game development process. We believe that cross-industry cooperation can help to improve this situation."


4. Walk on the wild side



Did you know that major internet companies leaked 450 million passwords, last year alone? Data leaks and data breaches happen all the time. That’s why you must protect your online accounts with multi-factor authentication.

For more information on World Password Day 2016, visit PasswordDay.org.



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