PASSWORDS - THE MAGIC KEY

Open Sesame was Ali Baba’s key to untold wealth in the story ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’ of the “Arabian Nights”. Without this key Ali Baba could not have entered the cave or used the wealth stored within.

If the thieves had not been careless, Ali Baba would not have had the Key. Well if you are careless, you will have the Ali Baba’s (Hackers) of the World partaking of the wealth of information you store on your Computer!

What is a Password ?

Simply definition is - a Password is an Access Key – it may be a Word, a combination of Numbers and Alphabets/Characters, which allows access to the Person having the Password to Computers, E-mail accounts, Documents, and Databases.

Without a Password access will be denied. That is, unless a person holds a Password, he cannot have access to the resources.

As such, the Security of the Password is a matter of serious concern to the holder. A Password falling into wrong hands can create havoc. There is every chance of Misuse of the Password.

Someone may use it for Personal gain, to fight competition or for the sheer fun of settling scores with a colleague at office. So it is imperative that we keep our Passwords Secure.

Is there anything we can do to keep our Passwords Secure ?

Well, here are some simple Strategies you can adopt that can prevent probable Misuse :

• Have a Password that is not easy to guess. For instance, do not have your Personal information as your Password or even as part of your Password. It is true that it helps you remember the Password, but it is easy to Hack. Most of us would create a Password that contains our Personal details like Name, Date of birth, Name of a close relative, Spouse’s Name, Pet’s Name, Driving License number, or something similar, but the Risks are High. Consider for a moment that you have your Name as your Password. It is something everybody around you knows. Therefore, the chances of breaking it and having access to your Computer or to some important document or information on your System, becomes easy for the unauthorized entrant.
• Do not share your Password with somebody you are not comfortable with, or one who you cannot take into confidence or trust.
• Change the Default Password at once. System or Software manufacturers create Passwords for first time use. It is dangerous to continue using them. Change the Password at once, or else you will find yourself in difficulties. Since the Password is default, it appears in the textbox provided for the purpose. Generally most of us say ‘Yes’ and we enter the system. Avoid doing this. With a default Password, access to your Computer and its contents is a cakewalk.
• Have complex Passwords with a combination of Alphabets and Numbers that makes breaking it difficult.
• Avoid having the same Password for all access to resources. Try having different Passwords for different resources like one Password for accessing your E-mail account, another for Banking and so on.
• If there are more than one User accessing the same System, then have different Passwords for different Users.
• Finally, keep changing your Password as frequently as possible or at regular intervals. After all everything in this world keeps changing. Why not Passwords ?.