Why passwords matter more than you think
Every month, millions of passwords are leaked in massive database attacks. The problem isn't just that your data is at risk, but that most people use the same password for multiple accounts. A single security breach can compromise your entire digital life.
Imagine someone gets your email password. With that, they can reset passwords for almost any other account you have: social media, online banking, shopping, work. It's like giving a stranger the master key to your house.
The most common passwords (that you should never use)
Every year, cybersecurity companies analyze millions of leaked passwords. The results are disheartening: "123456", "password", "qwerty" and "123456789" remain the most used. These passwords can be cracked in less than a second.
Other common mistakes include using your name, date of birth, pet's name, or favorite football team. Attackers use dictionaries that include all these obvious variants.
How to create truly secure passwords
A strong password should have at least 12 characters and combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. But memorizing "K9$mP2@qL5#nB" is practically impossible, and you need dozens of these.
The solution? The passphrase method. Instead of trying to remember random characters, create a memorable phrase and transform it. For example: "My dog is 3 years old and is named Max" becomes "Mdi3yoainM@X!". It's longer, unique, and easier to remember.
Password managers: the definitive game changer
The reality is that you can't create and remember unique and complex passwords for all your accounts. This is where password managers come in.
Programs like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane generate ultra-secure random passwords for each account and store them encrypted. You only need to remember one master password. The security difference is astronomical.
Carlos, a graphic designer, was the victim of an attack on his Instagram account in 2024. The attackers gained access because he used the same password that had been leaked in an attack on a tech forum years earlier. After that, he implemented a password manager. Now each of his 87 accounts has a unique randomly generated 20-character password.
Two-factor authentication: the essential extra layer
Even with strong passwords, adding two-factor authentication (2FA) multiplies your security. This means that even if someone gets your password, they'll also need access to your phone or device to get in.
There are different types of 2FA. SMS codes are better than nothing, but they're not perfect because they can be intercepted. Authentication apps like Google Authenticator or Authy are more secure. And physical security keys like YubiKey are virtually impenetrable.
Common password management mistakes
Writing passwords on a sticky note attached to your monitor is like leaving your house keys under the doormat. It seems obvious, but it happens constantly in offices around the world.
Another mistake: sharing passwords via email or messages. Emails are not encrypted by default. If you need to share access with a coworker or family member, use a tool designed for it, like the secure sharing functions of password managers.
When and how to change your passwords
For years, experts recommended changing passwords every 90 days. We now know that this doesn't really help and can even be counterproductive, as it leads people to create weaker passwords or predictable patterns.
Change your passwords when there's a real reason: if a service announces a data breach, if you suspect someone may have accessed your account, or if you used a weak password and now want to improve your security.
Review your accounts: a security audit
When was the last time you reviewed what accounts you have active? Many people have dozens of accounts on services they no longer use, each one a potential door for attackers.
Do this exercise every six months: review your email and look for registration confirmation messages. Identify services you no longer use and delete the accounts. Fewer accounts mean less attack surface.
Tools to check if you've been compromised
The website "Have I Been Pwned" allows you to check if your email appears in known data leaks. If you discover it does, immediately change the passwords of affected accounts.
Don't panic if your email appears. What matters is the action you take afterward. Change passwords, enable 2FA, and consider using email aliases for different services to limit future exposure.
Creating a security culture
Password security isn't just an individual matter. If you work in a team, a colleague's weak passwords can compromise all shared projects.
Laura, team leader at a marketing agency, implemented a simple policy: any shared company account must be managed with a corporate password manager, and all team members must enable 2FA on their work-related personal accounts. In six months, unauthorized access attempts plummeted.
The perfect password doesn't exist
There's no password that's impossible to crack. What you're looking for is to make cracking your password so difficult and time-consuming that attackers prefer to look for easier targets.
Combine everything we've discussed: unique and long passwords, a password manager, two-factor authentication, and regular account audits. This combination creates layers of security that will keep your data protected against the vast majority of attacks.
Remember when you started locking your front door? At first it might have seemed like a hassle, but it soon became an automatic habit. Password security is the same: at first it requires effort, but it quickly becomes second nature. And the cost of not doing it is too high to ignore.
