What Makes A Strong Password? And Why Do I Need One?

Think about some of your private accounts right now. Chances are that you have an email account, social media accounts, bank account and more that are all password protected. Do you share passwords across different accounts, and are your passwords strong enough to keep cybercriminals away from your private information? If not, it might be time to evaluate.

Passwords offer the first line of defense when someone tries to access your sensitive information. Without passwords, anyone could gain access to your social media account, which could provide them with personal information that could be used to harm you. Even worse, bank accounts would be easily accessible to cybercriminals hoping to rob you of your funds.

While many personal accounts are password-protected, your business accounts also need to be properly secured. But this doesn’t just exclusively apply to you – it needs to be understood on a company-wide level. Every employee needs to use passwords to keep sensitive business information secure. Think about the damage a cybercriminal could do to your business if they gained access. They would permanently damage your business’s reputation while also putting your employees’ and customers’ private information at risk.

However, it’s not enough to simply put a password in place. The passwords you choose need to be complex. But what makes a password complex? A complex password will utilize a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation and special characters. Additionally, your password should not be related to any personal information, nor should you use dictionary words. Your password should be incredibly difficult for someone to guess, even if they know you well, but you also need to ensure that your password is something you can remember.

But even with a complex password, it’s likely still not enough protection. Each of your accounts and devices should have a unique password that hasn’t been used anywhere else. If you use the same password across all accounts and devices, you’re opening yourself up to a pretty extreme cyber-attack if one of your accounts is compromised. All a cybercriminal needs to do is hack your Facebook page, and they will have the password for your bank accounts and email.

You might think that it’d be impossible to remember so many different complex passwords, but software is available that can help. The best way to keep track of your passwords is to use a password manager. With a password manager, you only have to remember one master password, and the software keeps track of the rest. It will even help you create complex passwords for your different accounts to ensure that your information is as protected as possible.

If you oversee a team of employees, then it’s vital that they understand why creating strong passwords is so important. Your team should have training on cyber security practices, including information on creating passwords. If just one employee fails to create a complex and unique password, it could open you up to a cyber-attack.

Creating strong passwords does not have to be difficult. If you’re struggling to remember or create strong passwords, use a password manager. Strong passwords will help keep your sensitive information protected.

Passkeys Could Improve The Way You Work…Forever

Back in May, we heard there would soon be a successor to the password – the Passkey.

Now, we’re hearing that Apple will start rolling out Passkeys in the next few months in iOS 16. And we’re excited.

Though it’s caused a bit of confusion. Apple is going to great lengths to market the Passkey, and understandably, people have assumed that it’s a feature exclusive to Apple.

That’s not the case.

In fact, Passkeys will be used in a joint effort to boost online security by Apple, Microsoft and Google. The reason Apple is promoting this new feature so hard is to get the message out there.

Microsoft and Google are also keen to spread the word so that people understand how Passkeys work.

The more people take advantage of Passkeys, the safer our businesses are online.

Passkeys – otherwise known as FIDO authentication – work by letting you log into an app or website with just your username and your pre-authenticated device, most probably your phone.

Your device generates a cryptographic token, which makes the second part of a cryptographic key pair. When the pair matches, you’re allowed access to the app or website.

What that means in practice is when you’re logging in, you just use your phone to prove its really you. You’ll just unlock it using your face, fingerprint or PIN.

So long as your phone is within Bluetooth range of your computer it will work.

And without needing a password… bliss…

It’s a far more secure way to access apps and keep your accounts safe from cyber criminals. You never see your cryptographic token, so it takes away a lot of the danger of having your login credentials stolen.

Cyber criminals will be unable to use their normal tactics – such phishing emails, brute force attacks, or key loggers – to steal your credentials.

They’ll need your physical device, making remote hacking much less likely.

If you use Windows Hello, you’ll see that Passkeys are already supported. And it won’t be long until all three tech giants roll out support across their entire product range.

Before then, if you’d like any help or advice on keeping your apps and accounts safer, just give us a call.

5 Ways To Boost Staff Efficiency

7 Tips To Reduce PC Power Consumption

In 2021, industrial consumers of electricity in the United States paid an average of $7.26 per kilowatt hour. This amount is a 9% increase from 2020 and the highest figure recorded since 1970. Given the rising electricity rates, it’s now more important to take energy-saving measures, one of which is reducing your PC power consumption. Here’s how to do that.

1. Reduce your computer monitor’s brightness

Most monitors have a built-in sensor that adjusts the screen’s brightness according to the amount of light in the room. You can also manually adjust your PC’s brightness to further reduce its power consumption.

2. Unplug your computer when it’s not in use

Many people leave their computers on all day, even when they’re not using them, to save time powering up. However, this practice wastes a lot of energy.

If you’re not going to be using your computer for a while, it’s best to shut it down and unplug it. That’s because a plugged-in computer — even when it’s switched off — still consumes standby power.

If you’re going to be away from your PC for a few minutes or a couple of hours, you can still save energy without sacrificing too much time by turning off your monitor. If you have a laptop, you can put it into sleep or hibernation mode when you’re not using it.

3. Opt for a laptop instead of a desktop computer

Use a laptop instead of a desktop since laptops are designed to be more energy-efficient than desktops.

4. Keep your laptop plugged in only when it is charging

We tend to forget about our laptops while they’re charging, leaving them plugged in for hours. The bad news is that overcharging causes the battery to deteriorate over time. When left plugged in, the charger still consumes power, even if it’s not connected to your computer. To save energy, unplug your laptop charger once you’re done charging.

5. Detach external devices from your PC when you’re not using them

Any external devices (e.g., printer, scanner, or webcam) connected to your PC continues to draw power even when they’re not in use. So when you’re not using them, make sure to disconnect these external devices from your PC.

6. Use a smart strip, especially for computers you cannot turn off

A smart strip automatically shuts down appliances when they go into standby mode. By connecting your computer and external devices to a smart strip, you won’t have to unplug your equipment when they’re not in use.

7. Pick an Energy Star-certified PC

When buying a new PC, look for an Energy Star-certified model. Products that have the Energy Star symbol are guaranteed to deliver both quality performance and energy savings. The number of stars a product has indicates how energy-efficient it is.

In fact, an Energy Star-certified PC uses about 25%–40% less electricity than conventional models by using the most efficient components and better managing energy use when idle. This can translate to savings between $7 and $52 per year in electricity bills.

Following these tips should help you reduce your electricity costs and make smart hardware choices. If you need help selecting the best hardware for your company’s needs, contact us. We’re ready to assist you.