In 2023, Peru is expected to report 5 billion cyber attacks, according to Fortinet. Cybercriminals use a variety of techniques such as phishing, brute force attacks, and keyloggers to steal user credentials. Password weakness is also a significant issue in online security with many people using easily guessable passwords like “123456.”
To keep accounts and digital assets safe, cybersecurity expert Arturo Torres recommends four strategies. Two-step verification, which requires an additional authentication step beyond the password, can help prevent unauthorized access to accounts. The importance of strong passwords cannot be overstated in protecting against security breaches.
The use of passwords can be traced back to ancient Greece where Roman soldiers used “slogans” on wooden tablets for identification during battles. In modern times, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) introduced password use to protect user files on computers in the 1960s. As technology advances, biometrics, facial recognition, and multi-factor authentication become more prevalent in authentication methods.
Hollywood has portrayed passwords in movies like “War Games,” where a high school hacker uses the password “Joshua” to access a government war game. The film highlights the misconception of password strength and emphasizes the importance of robust security measures in contemporary digital environments.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, staying informed about best practices in online security is crucial for safeguarding personal data and accounts.