Comment on Reserve World Password Day, being observed today, from Kartik Shahani, Country Manager, Tenable India
Cyber attacks are on the rise in India with the number of incidents increasing threefold in the last one year. Be it a major breach like SolarWinds or phishing and ransomware attacks, cybercriminals always take the easiest route to obtain privileged credentials. In many instances, phishing and ransomware scams hinge on procuring passwords and personally identifiable information. Maintaining basic cyber hygiene by adopting strong passwords and multi-factor authentication go a long way in thwarting cyber attacks.
“In today’s digital-everything world, so much of our lives are available online and accessible across multiple devices. We have grown accustomed to sharing our personal information online, sometimes without giving thought to the potential consequences.
“Personally identifiable information has become an attractive target for cybercriminals and unfortunately a password with your pet’s name isn’t going to protect you. Weak or predictable passwords are akin having a door with no hinges, a thief can get through. Far too many scams focused on tricking individuals to disclose their passwords have occurred in India and the negative consequences as a result cannot be understated.
“Rather than relying on passwords alone, add additional layers of security. Implement authentication methods [multi-factor authentication (MFA)], such as the use of biometrics or one time passcodes [OTPs]. This is simple and prevents identity theft and other cybercrimes.” – Kartik Shahani, Country Manager, Tenable.