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It's World Password Day: Change Your Passwords

Posted by Soulskill on from the 123456-becomes-1234567 dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Today is World Password Day — a day dedicated to promoting the use of strong passwords and the creation of good habits. However insecure this method of authentication is, it's not going away anytime soon, and people should be educated on how to make the best of it. To that end, last year Intel started an action-oriented campaign to raise user awareness regarding password problems, and this year their initiative has a new digital home. Passwordday.org provides the Password Blaster (a videogame that teaches good passwords using real leaked passwords), the Password Strength Meter, links to McAfee's Heartbleed Test tool, offers animated educational GIFs and tips and tricks for upgrading your passwords."

10 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Enough "world days" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Please.

  2. And Tomorrow is 'What was my password again?' Day by Curialis · · Score: 5, Funny

    IT Workers rejoice!!

  3. Re:OK, but not sure 123456 is any better than 1234 by rasmusbr · · Score: 3, Funny

    You're doing it wrong. It's suppose to be something like Hj1pAab5!z21i0lO&sa8q0, on a sticky note attached to the machine.

  4. WorldPasswordDay1! by danbert8 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Let's celebrate with 8-16 characters that must include at least one capital, one number, and one symbol but not repeat any character more than twice. Ahh screw it, why don't we celebrate World Write Down Your Password On A Post-It Note Day?

    --
    Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
  5. I recommend by BobMcD · · Score: 3, Funny

    worldp@sswordday14

    That way you can remember it until next year!

  6. Re:OK, but not sure 123456 is any better than 1234 by SJHillman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My bank assigned me the random PIN of "1234" for my debit card. One of my student loan websites (Citibank) ignored anything past the 8th character of your password anyway. One of my old credit unions had a six character password limit, alphanumeric only. Financial institutions are a little behind the times.

  7. Re:OK, but not sure 123456 is any better than 1234 by msauve · · Score: 3, Funny

    Password.2014

    Upper case, lower case, symbol, digit, more than 12 chars. Check!

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  8. Re:OK, but not sure 123456 is any better than 1234 by msauve · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't want to know how those notes got sticky.

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  9. Re:Not happening. by Derekloffin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Indeed, and I've never understood the advice to change your password frequently. The only thing that would help against is if someone has already compromised your account and has been laying low (rather than what they usually do which is clean it out asap). However, changing passwords constantly highly encourages you to use less and less powerful passwords as you can't remember them all the time meaning you're that much more likely to get that initial compromise.

  10. Re:OK, but not sure 123456 is any better than 1234 by nitehawk214 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't want to know how those notes got sticky.

    She is a big fan of McGuyver.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust