The misfortunate passwords of Fortune 500 companies

Tips to make your accounts more secure

Use complex passwords and update them regularly

Our research shows that employees use incredibly weak passwords, such as “password” or “123456”. Additionally, about 20% of the passwords are the exact name of the company the victim works at or a variation of it. This makes password brute-forcing attacks highly efficient. Security experts agree that a strong password contains at least 12 characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. To create a complex, strong password quickly and easily try out using our Password Generator. But keep in mind that due to frequent data breaches, which often expose passwords, it is critical not to reuse your passwords and schedule them for regular updates.

Use a password manager

Adopting a password manager for company-wide use is your best bet to ensure the security of your business accounts. A password management solution provides a secure way to store, share, and manage passwords in a single place. Additionally, password managers often provide a way to secure other sensitive information, such as credit cards, secure notes, and personal information. Most also offer additional security tools and features. For instance, a password generator, data breach scanner, and a password health tool are among the most common.

Use multi-factor authentication or a single sign-on

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to an online account or an application. MFA is a core component for ensuring strong online security. The main benefit of MFA is that it enhances your organization's security by requiring your users to identify themselves by more than a username and password. Using MFA verification allows businesses to feel more confident in their security against cybercriminal activity.

Another great idea is to leverage single sign-on and password synchronization. With a single sign-on, employees are less likely to revert to bad password practices, such as creating common passwords or writing them down.

Educate your employees

Education and knowledge of potential risks is vital. Help your employees be aware of the importance of password strength. Explain to them why mixing their work and personal accounts could be dangerous. This ensures that their personal identity is protected, and that all information related to the employer is protected in the event of a breach. Finally, consider setting company-wide password policies.