Importance of Routinely Changing Passwords
We find it comical when we take over a new environment or perform a project assessment where we discover that the environment is not changing passwords regularly. Many environments are changing their passwords every three to six month. While that is a good practice to start with, in today’s aggressive cyber crime environment, its crucial to change your passwords every 30 days. It’s important to prevent Unauthorized Access to your business environment. If your password is leaked, stolen, or otherwise exposed (through a data breach, phishing attack, or malware), a hacker can gain access to your accounts. Changing passwords regularly reduces the window of opportunity for an attacker to exploit stolen credentials. Over time, attackers may try to guess your password through various methods (brute force, dictionary attacks, etc.). Regularly changing passwords makes it harder for them to succeed.
Having different level of security in place greatly reduces the likelihood of a breach. Reducing the impact of a breach is a good strategy to adhere to. Even if your password was not initially compromised, it could eventually be exposed through another service or platform being breached. By changing it regularly, you ensure that even if one account is breached, others remain secure. If a system is infected with malware (such as keyloggers or credential stealers), attackers can capture your current password. Changing it frequently ensures that even if a password is captured, it’s soon outdated. Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and while a password might have been secure a year ago, new attack vectors might make it vulnerable today. Changing passwords periodically ensures you stay one step ahead of evolving threats. As attackers become more sophisticated (e.g., through social engineering or phishing), the password you’ve been using may no longer be strong enough to fend off new tactics. Changing it with each update allows you to follow best practices for creating stronger passwords. Accounts related to personal information (banking, email, health records) are high-value targets for hackers. Changing passwords regularly on these accounts reduces the chances of them being accessed by unauthorized users. While 2FA enhances security, it’s not foolproof. If an attacker has access to your password and intercepts your 2FA, they could still compromise your account. Regular password changes complement 2FA to increase security.
Always create complex, unique passwords. A good password typically includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. If you find it difficult to remember many passwords, a password manager can store and generate strong passwords for you. Whenever possible, enable MFA to add an extra layer of security.