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9 Tips for Stronger Passwords and the Future of Authentication

Weak passwords can make it easy for someone to access your business or personal data. Strong passwords are essential, and the evolving landscape of digital security is pointing towards even more secure and convenient solutions, such as passkeys.

Here are some effective tips for creating strong passwords and a look at the future with passkeys.

Quick Reference

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1

Length Matters Ensure passwords are at least eight characters long; longer is usually better.

Ensure passwords are at least eight characters long; longer is usually better.

2

Avoid Simple Sequences Don’t use character series like "1234," "4321," “ABC," etc.

Don’t use character series like “1234,” “4321,” “ABC,” etc.

3

Mix It Up Include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation, distributed throughout your password.

Include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation, distributed throughout your password.

4

Personal Info is a No-Go Avoid using personal information easily mined from social media, such as birthdays, pet names, or street names.

Avoid using personal information easily mined from social media, such as birthdays, pet names, or street names.

5

Don’t Use Single Words Don’t use single dictionary words, whether spelled forward or backward, even with character substitutions like $ or @.

Don’t use single dictionary words, whether spelled forward or backward, even with character substitutions like $ or @.

6

Create a Memorable Mashup Use a string of three random words mashed together, making it easier to remember without writing it down.

Use a string of three random words mashed together, making it easier to remember without writing it down.

7

Unique Passwords Only Never reuse passwords across different sites or platforms.

Never reuse passwords across different sites or platforms.

8

Utilize a Password Manager Use tools like 1Password to generate and store randomized, strong passwords.

Use tools like 1Password to generate and store randomized, strong passwords.

9

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication Add two-factor authentication where available, as offered by many services.

Add two-factor authentication where available, as offered by many services.

Passkeys: The Future of Authentication

A passkey is a new, technologically advanced way to log into websites and apps without having to remember a password. You just use your device to prove it’s really you. This could be as simple as unlocking your phone with your fingerprint, face, or PIN.

Passkeys offer a more secure alternative to traditional passwords. They because they use cryptographic methods to authenticate users without transmitting a private key, making them immune to phishing and theft. Major tech companies are embracing passkeys, providing seamless use across multiple devices and platforms.

To start using passkeys, you usually need to set them up once with each website or app you use by following their instructions. After that, whenever you want to log in, your device will do most of the work—just confirm that it’s you with a tap or by looking at your phone. This means no more struggling to remember different passwords for every account, making your online life both easier and safer.

Be Safe Out There!

Maintaining strong password practices is crucial in today’s digital world, where our online accounts hold valuable personal information and sensitive data. However, as technology advances, we need to look ahead to even more secure and user-friendly authentication methods.

The adoption of passkeys is gaining momentum, with major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft collaborating on industry-wide standards. As more online services integrate passkey support, we can expect a gradual shift away from traditional passwords towards a more secure and convenient authentication future.

While it’s essential to maintain robust password practices today, looking ahead to innovations like passkeys can prepare us for a more secure digital future characterized by improved security, usability, and cross-platform compatibility.

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Mike Cobb, Director of Engineering and CISO
As Director of Engineering, Mike Cobb manages the day-to-day operations of the Engineering Department, including the physical and logical recoveries of rotational media, SSDs, smart devices and flash media. He also oversees the R&D efforts for past, present, and future storage technologies. Mike encourages growth and ensures that each of the departments and their engineers continues to gain knowledge in their field. Each DriveSavers engineer has been trained to ensure the successful and complete recovery of data is their top priority.

As Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Mike oversees cybersecurity at DriveSavers, including maintaining and updating security certifications such as SOC 2 Type II compliance, coordinating company security policy, and employee cybersecurity education.

Mike joined DriveSavers in 1994 and has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Riverside.

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