Company
Date Published
Author
Kelley Robinson
Word count
626
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The use of weak passwords is a significant problem in password security, with many people reusing passwords across multiple accounts, making them vulnerable to credential stuffing attacks. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its guidelines for password security, recommending against arbitrary change requirements, forcing special characters or uppercase letters, and disallowing compromised passwords. To improve security, experts recommend using a password manager and enabling two-factor authentication, which adds an additional layer of protection in case the first factor is compromised. By adopting these best practices, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of identity theft and protect themselves from hackers.