Observing World Password Day -Things to know

World Password Day is an annual event that takes place on the first Thursday of May. It was created to raise awareness about the importance of creating strong passwords and taking steps to protect personal and sensitive information online. The first World Password Day was observed in 2013.

On this day, individuals and organizations are encouraged to take the following steps to improve their password security:

1. Create strong passwords: Use a combination of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters to create a password that is difficult to guess.
2. Use unique passwords: Do not reuse the same password for multiple accounts. If one password is compromised, all of your accounts could be at risk.
3. Use a password manager: Consider using a password manager to store your passwords securely. This can help you create and manage strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts.
4. Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password.
5. Stay vigilant: Regularly monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

By following these steps, individuals can help protect their personal and sensitive information online and reduce the risk of identity theft and other forms of cybercrime.

Here are some additional pieces of information related to World Password Day:

• The event was created by Intel in collaboration with security expert Mark Burnett, who authored the book “Perfect Passwords” and is known for his work on the TV show “Survivor.”
• According to a survey conducted by password manager LastPass in 2020, the most commonly used passwords are still “123456” and “password.” This highlights the need for continued education and awareness about the importance of strong passwords.
• In addition to individual efforts to improve password security, organizations can also take steps to protect their employees and customers by implementing strong password policies, providing employee training on cybersecurity best practices, and using multi-factor authentication.

• Some experts advocate for the use of passphrases instead of passwords. Passphrases are longer, more complex combinations of words that are easier to remember than random strings of characters. For example, “correct horse battery staple” is a passphrase that is much more secure than “password” but still easy to remember.
• World Password Day is not the only event focused on cybersecurity awareness. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the United States, and many other countries have similar campaigns to promote safe online practices.