How Do Passwords Get Stolen?

As a small business owner, IT professional, or employee, there is no denying the fact that you’ll face a few problems every now and again. Simply put, there is no way to avoid every potential IT concern. Instead, it’s how you solve these problems that matter most. Here’s a question to answer: how do passwords get stolen? This may not be something you think about often, but it could lead to a variety of problems in the future. Remember, it only takes one stolen password for a hacker to gain access to an important account or network.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the many ways passwords are stolen:

• Too easy to guess. Simply put, some people don’t understand the importance of choosing a complex password. Instead, they opt for something that is entirely too simple for others to guess. For example, a person may select his or her name as a password. Yes, this is easy to remember, however, it’s also simple for other people to figure out.
• People share them. Believe it or not, there are people out there who don’t think twice about sharing their password. As a result, they end up sharing the data with somebody who has nothing but bad intentions.
• People write them down. Are you the type of person who likes to write everything down? Do you worry that this is the only way to remember your password? While there is nothing wrong with this, you need to be extremely careful of where you store the information.
• Software installed on your company. Did you know that hackers often use keyloggers as a means of seeing everything you’re typing on your computer? This is every bit as scary as it sounds. If you have any reason to believe that your computer has been hacked, it’s best to find an immediate solution. Simply hoping that the problem will go away is a mistake, as this is not going to happen.
• You left your device unattended. Get this: leaving your smartphone, tablet, or computer unattended is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. If you’re going to do this, make sure you first protect your device, such as by putting it to sleep. This way, somebody will need your password to gain access.

Do you know how to choose a secure password? Do you know how to keep your password safe at all times? If you are unsure of what you are doing, the information above should put you in a better place.

Final tip: get into the habit of changing your password on a weekly or monthly basis. This sounds like a lot of work, but it can help keep you and your company safe. Once you have a routine in place, such as changing your password every Monday, it will become second nature.

So, there you have it. You now have a better idea of how passwords are stolen and what you can do to protect yourself.

It’s easy to believe that nothing bad will ever happen to you or your company, but there are people out there with bad intentions.

What steps do you take to keep your passwords secure? Do you have any advice for other business professionals? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.