“The Password is dead, Long live the Password”
It seems as though each year an IT giant declares the death of the password. Microsoft, IBM, Google and others claimed that the age of the password had come to an end because passwords no longer kept users safe. In 2014, Gartner said, “Passwords were dead a few years ago. Now they are more than dead.”[1]
Fast forward to 2017. Not only has the password not died, but its presence steadily grows as facets of our lives transition to the online realm. Twenty years ago, a typical consumer used a single password and PIN. Today, two thirds of consumers access 6 or more applications each day; we access systems at work, manage multiple social media profiles, shop online, bank online, etc. By 2020, every one of us will have 200 online accounts, each requiring a unique password. With our ever-increasing online presence, the password authentication method has inevitably faced security challenges. Users have had to meet specific password security requirements, birthed from evolving technology and increasing cyber threats.
It is no longer sufficient to simply compose a password with an upper and lower case letter along with a single numeric digit. Due to today’s various complexity requirements, it’s difficult for users to create a password, let alone recall their numerous passwords. To manage what is often a forgetful or inconvenient process, users often adopt “unsafe” password habits such as writing them on pieces of paper, reusing passwords across multiple sites/accounts, storing saved passwords in unencrypted documents, etc.
Password related security breaches are so commonplace that last year the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a new set of password requirements for the Federal systems, putting the password minimal length at 8 characters. With the increased requirements, users struggle to create secure passwords.
RoboForm can alleviate many of the burdens users are faced with when creating and using passwords thanks to its built-in password generator. The password generator feature allows for the creation of unique, complex, long, and strong passwords with the click of a button.
RoboForm’s password generator provides tremendous value to businesses both in terms of security and productivity. Owners and employees no longer need to burden themselves with time consuming password updates or worrisome security gaps, instead focusing on revenue generating projects and tasks. Neither you nor your employees will relegate the company’s security to passwords such as your pet’s name. Security and convenience – the ultimate solution for any business.
All sources:
- http://www.jbonneau.com/doc/BHOS15-CACM-imperfect_authentication.pdf
- “Russian credential theft shows why the password is dead”. Computer World. 2014-08-14.
- https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/08/18/nists-new-password-rules-what-you-need-to-know/
- https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Risk/gx-gra-cyberrisk.pdf
