Top Cybersecurity Tips on Global Password Day

There has never been a more pressing time to use a strong password to protect your online accounts, given that so much of modern life takes place online (including schoolwork, research, shopping, banking, communication, and even recreation). World Password Day is held annually on the first Thursday of May to emphasize the significance of using a strong password for all online accounts.

Check Point Software Technologies, a global leader in cybersecurity, has provided tips for creating and managing safe passwords for online accounts. It can help millions of users if they follow the tips accurately.

You must avoid using easily guessed terms or dates associated with yourself (such as your birthday, cell phone number, etc.) and instead use a mix of characters. To prevent this, you should always choose a random sequence comprising various numbers, characters, and symbols according to the platform you are using.

Tips for Cybersecurity - A safe password

Keep your passwords unique across all of your online accounts and services. If the security of any one of your accounts is breached, all of your accounts that use the same password are also at risk.

The temptation to use the same password for all your accounts is understandable, given the proliferation of applications and services needing authentication. If you use a password manager, make sure you use a unique password for each service or account.

Significance of Global Password Day

May 2nd, Global Password Day, is an excellent opportunity to evaluate your company's cyber security measures. Of course, passwords are essential, as they are the primary means by which regular users access the network's resources. However, cyber security is a much more extensive and in-depth activity, especially in light of the recent rise in cybercrime, which is expected to cost the globe an estimated $6 trillion yearly by 2021. Many components must be secured, from servers and routers to the Internet of Things, mobile, and remote access systems. In honor of Global Password Day, here are some strategies for staying ahead of cybercriminals.

Recognize Potential Entry Points

Think first of the plethora of recent data breaches and the widespread nature of the access points. Almost half (46%) of the 1,200 businesses reported experiencing a data breach in the previous 12 months. How far did these holes go? One of the worst data breaches occurred at Marriott towards the end of 2018, affecting as many as 500 million users who had reservations at its Starwood hotels between March 1, 2015, and September 10, 2018. Starwood claims that a hack of its guest reservation database may have exposed these customers' personal information.

In May this year, a botnet impacting at least half a million vulnerable routers and NAS systems in 54 countries was discovered. Attackers could take complete control of compromised machines and access all of their data because of the malware.

At the same time, the number of assaults on the Internet of Things surged by 600 percent in the past year, compelling businesses to improve event detection inside their IoT platforms and seek new ways to boost visibility throughout their vast IoT networks and devices. A smart thermostat in a fish tank in the lobby gave the hackers a foothold into the casino's network, allowing them to compromise the high-roller database.

Create a Method for Dealing With Emergencies

Multiple data points demonstrate how unprepared businesses are to safeguard their IT infrastructure. In a recent survey, 77% of IT professionals stated their companies lacked a formal cyber security incident response strategy, while another 24% said they only had a loosely-defined plan. The shocking truth is that almost 50% of IT security professionals do not significantly alter their security strategy even after an attack. Educating your IT security staff on the strategic components of incident response is an excellent place to start.

For instance, the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) credential educates managers on how to build and implement a comprehensive security strategy for an organization's IT systems. CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) holders have received training in auditing the security of information technology systems and in exercising oversight over enterprise IT systems.

Employee Security Preparation

A vulnerable employee is one of the most challenging attack routes to mitigate. In 2017, 76% of businesses were victimized by phishing assaults, which allow fraudsters to get into networks by tricking unsuspecting workers into giving over their credentials. Ransomware assaults increased by 300 percent last year, while the number of ransomware "kits" and ransomware-as-a-service offers on the Dark Web increased by 2,500 percent.

Workers must be prepared for any assaults that may come their way and never open attachments or click on links in emails from unknown senders, especially if they appear to have come from someone in a position of authority, such as the CFO. On the other hand, Wired recommends more stringent password policies, such as using longer passwords (12–15 characters) to reduce the likelihood of a brute force attack, making use of password managers, and implementing two-factor authentication, which is now more convenient than ever thanks to mobile authentication apps.

Recognize and Reward

The only way for businesses to start re-prioritizing their cyber security operations is if upper management decides it's a top priority. If you want to improve your cyber security measures, hire a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Forty percent of all corporate positions now report directly to the CEO, indicating the increasing importance of these positions.

A Course on Cybercriminal Thinking

Unfortunately, hackers and cybercriminals spend all day and night plotting new methods to breach company networks, leaving many cybersecurity experts behind. Thanks to Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) skills training, today's cyber security teams may learn to think like hackers without committing hacking crimes. They become proficient in cutting-edge techniques, including virus coding, exploit coding, reverse engineering, and more.

Conclusion

IT security professionals are pretty competent, and the world owesthem gratitude for their hard work. Despite this, it is essential to remember that hackers are always developing new methods of attack and that cyber security experts must always improve their methods to keep their networks safe.