A password is a combination of alphanumeric characters used for user authentication. Traditional passwords include names, birthdays, or can even be as simple as “qwerty123,” which is surprisingly still one of the most common passwords today.
Passwords like these are typically used across various sites and can be easily guessed by hackers and cybercriminals, meaning one compromised password makes you vulnerable on multiple websites. Enter Password Generator, simplifying the process and keeping your information safe.
Challenges of Traditional Passwords
Traditional passwords including the user’s personal information, common words, and common numerical combinations can be very easily guessed by cybercriminals. There are a few common methods hackers use to gain unauthorized access to your accounts.
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Brute Force Attacks:
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This is a hacking method that uses trial and error to guess a user’s login information and gain access to their accounts. This continues to be an effective method because of reused and very common passwords.
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Dictionary attacks:
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Hackers will compile a list of the most common passwords, known as their “dictionary” and try them one by one. This is similar to a brute force attack, but it is quicker since they are attempting a smaller number of combinations.
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Credential Stuffing:
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The hacker will obtain a list of leaked login credentials to a specific site and will use these same credentials to attempt to login to several other websites. This relies on the assumption that most users reuse passwords.
So, what can you do? These common combinations exist because, after all, we’re only human. It’s not an easy task to memorize lengthy, completely randomized character combinations, let alone a different one for every single website we interact with. Microsoft’s Password Generator has the perfect solution.
What is Password Generator?
Password Generator is Microsoft Edge’s built-in password generator that suggests unique, strong passwords whenever you create or change a password on a website. When creating a password on the webpage you’re visiting, rather than typing in your go-to password, let Password Generator do all the heavy lifting.
If you have it enabled on Edge, whenever you are creating a password, once you are on the password field, it will automatically suggest a password. All you have to do is select it, and the Password Manager will autofill the field
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If you don’t get an automatic suggestion, all you have to do when you get to the password field is right click it. Then, you should see an option stating, “Suggest strong password.” Once you select it, it will autofill the generated password. All done!
In the matter of seconds, you’ve now created a strong, unique password that isn’t reused on multiple sites.
How to Keep Track of Passwords
Password managers allow you to securely keep track of all your passwords in one place. You will be able to create entries for all different sites you have login credentials for. This way, there is no stress about forgetting your generated password. Many password managers even have the capability to autofill login information, so you don’t even have to do as much as copy and paste it.
There are many different options, and research is needed to choose which is best for your personal or business needs.
Conveniently, Edge makes it even easier by presenting the option to save the password to their built-in password manager as soon as it is generated. You can use this option or simply make an entry to your password manager of choice with the generated password.
Make Using Password Generator a Habit
When creating a new account, instead of automatically typing in the same password you’ve been using for years, let Password Generator take over. Transmitting this information and making sure everyone at your organization adopts this new method of creating passwords will allow you and your organization to be more secure.
