If you’re following the news then it won’t have escaped your notice that IT data Breaches have been the topic of headlines again. What makes this one different however is two things. Firstly the breath of online users who are potentially impacted by this breach, secondly the sheer scale of it.
Researchers have recently confirmed the breach of approximately 16 billion passwords – you read that right, billions.
You don’t need us to tell you why this is both scary and important. The access to so many passwords means potential access to that many user accounts, and the opportunity to commit all sorts of crimes including fraud and theft.
So what can you do about it? That’s our focus today as we discuss what impact this has on you and what action you should take.
You are almost certainly affected
It’s difficult to understate the size of this breach. Reporting has indicated that over 16 billion passwords have been affected and this includes users of Apple, Facebook and Google.
These companies are ubiquitous with how we live our online lives, it’s almost certain that you use one or more of them and it is quite possible that you may have been caught in the breach (Google for example has advised 2 billion Gmail users to change their passwords).
Given how extensive we know the breach to be, and how many types of users have been affected you should probably change your passwords now.
You should ensure you are using good security protocols
It goes without saying that if passwords are going to change it is worth a reminder of good password security protocols. This means a complex password, a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
Do try to avoid commonly used passwords (which includes the word “password”) and things that would be easy to guess about you – including your name or your date of birth in the password should be avoided.
It is possible that you may also be able to change from using passwords to the more secure passkey technology. Your service provider will have specific advice on how to do this.
And finally when we’re talking about good password security protocols, this includes…
Consider using a password security app
This is a common request on this blog, that you consider using a password security app.
Using an app like this immediately means that you no longer have to remember multiple complex passwords, just the one. The password app will remember (and usually set) the complex and secure passwords for you. Yes these can cost a small monthly subscription fee but it is more than worth it for the peace of mind it brings.
If you know you need to increase the IT security in your business but don’t know where to start, don’t worry, WebbyTech is here to help. You can see the full range of services we offer here or contact us directly for a no obligations conversation.
