Everyone needs passwords in their everyday life. A group of researchers now explains that most codes are not as secure as you might think.
Pretty much everyone here probably uses passwords in their everyday life. Whether it is to unlock your computer or access social media or your bank account – such codes are found everywhere in daily life.
It is not surprising that many users hardly take the time for decent passwords. And this plays into the hands of hackers, as a group of security researchers has now found out.
Many passwords can be cracked in just a few minutes
What kind of report is this? Hive Systems is a security company specializing in cyber security and solutions against hacking. The company is based in Richmond, Virginia. In a detailed report, it is explained that many passwords are not as secure as some would assume.
Simply put: Hackers “crack” your passwords by creating a list of all character combinations on a keyboard and then hacking them. By finding matches between this list and the hashes of the stolen credentials, hackers can discover the correct password.
The faster and more powerful the graphics card, the quicker this “cracking” of passwords occurs. Already, the RTX 4080 is so fast that it can crack many passwords in under 1 hour.
How quickly can passwords be solved? This entirely depends on how long and complex your password is. Passwords of 5, 6, or 7 characters can be solved in a few minutes and are no real barrier.
If you not only use uppercase and lowercase letters but also incorporate symbols, then the time increases significantly: A password of 10 characters, consisting of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols takes at least 5 years. But what else should I consider?
Passwords under 10 characters remain insecure
How long should my password be?
- If your code consists of less than 10 characters, it will be cracked in about 3 weeks.
- From 10 characters, you can significantly extend the time, keeping hackers occupied for about 5 years.
- Already with passwords of 11 characters, consisting of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, hackers need about 400 years.
Furthermore, the researchers point out that users should refrain from using personal information in passwords: Things like your birthday, your wife’s name, or your place of birth can be quickly uncovered and should ideally be avoided. Especially if you want to secure your social media profiles with them.
More on the topic of security: Find further tips and tricks and what else you should consider with passwords in our guide on MeinMMO:
Tips for strong passwords and why you need them in the first place
