BUSINESS SURVEILLANCE
HAS THE TIME FINALLY COME TO BANISH THE PASSWORD ?
Password security has become a popular topic among industry professionals as they look for alternative ways to keep their data safe . Experts discuss the use of passwords today and offer best practice advice about how to handle the likes of Web3 and generative AI which pose a threat .
n recent years ,
I passwords have been so invaluable that the annual World Password Day has usually served to celebrate exceptional password hygiene across the globe . However , there is growing sentiment that they ’ ve become an outdated tool and experts are warning they offer little protection against today ’ s threats .
Nonetheless , for most organisations , passwords remain their essential first line of defence against hackers and are incredibly important until a new cybersecurity strategy is in place .
Industry experts offered their opinions on password hygiene , organisational best practice and the idea of a passwordless future .
In 2023 , we are still dealing with poor password hygiene
According to Simon Horswell , Fraud Specialist at Onfido : “‘ Password ’ and
‘ 12345 ’ remain among the most popular passwords in the UK , despite repeated warnings about the security risks they pose . In fact , 83 % of the most commonly used passwords can be cracked in less than a second .”
Field Technology Officer at CyberArk , David Higgins , agreed : “ Advice encouraging organisations to better their password hygiene and improve their overall security isn ’ t new … And the advice itself hasn ’ t changed . Yet , here we are in 2023 with the same identity issues plaguing organisations who still haven ’ t got the hang of password management as part of their identity security programmes . As such , it ’ s leaving sensitive data and assets at risk .”
While password hygiene is still failing , the latest technological advancements also severely impact even the most exceptional password practice .
OneSpan ’ s Field CTO , Will LaSala , said : “ Every time you type in your password online , you share part
Fortinet ’ s Deputy CISO , Renee Tarun
OneSpan ’ s Field CTO , Will LaSala
of your digital identity , opening up opportunities for your sensitive data to be compromised . With a strong and secure password , you can help reduce the likelihood of breaches – but as Web3 adoption nears and cyberattacks rise , this is no longer enough .”
62 www . intelligentciso . com