The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued new guidelines for password security that turn accepted wisdom about creating long strings of letters, numbers and symbols on its head.
Details
NIST, a non-regulatory federal agency within the US Department of Commerce, issued the original advice in 2003 that became the global standard for password security. But it now says the advice led people to create predictably ‘complex’ passwords in a bid to remember them, which made them more vulnerable to hackers.
A former employee who has since retired said there just wasn’t enough real-word data available at the time.
Staying safe
Key changes in NIST’s new digital identity guidelines include:
Don’t arbitrarily mix letters, numbers and symbols to make a password. Instead, create passwords that are more memorable.
Single dictionary words, the user’s street address or numeric sequences such as 1234567 should be banned.
Organisations should screen the strength of their passwords against those used in cybercriminal dictionary attacks; a method of breaking into a password-protected computer or server by systematically entering every word in a dictionary as a password.
Stop frequently changing passwords, for example each month, as it leads to poor passwords being created.
More information
Stay Smart Online has more information on how to create strong passwords for individuals and business.
The information provided here is of a general nature. Everyone’s circumstances are different. If you require specific advice you should contact your local technical support provider.
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Disclaimer
This information has been prepared by the Attorney General’s Department (‘the Department’). It was accurate and up to date at the time of publishing.
This information is general information only and is intended for use by private individuals and small to medium sized businesses. If you are concerned about a specific cyber security issue you should seek professional advice.
The Commonwealth and all other persons associated with this advisory accept no liability for any damage, loss or expense incurred as a result of the provision of this information, whether by way of negligence or otherwise.
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Please note that third party views or recommendations included in this information do not reflect the views of the Commonwealth, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. The Commonwealth also cannot verify the accuracy of any third party material included in this information.
