Learn About Creating Good Password Security

Learn About Creating Good Password Securityan It Security Consultant

Learn About creating good password security. An IT Security consultant has made three primary recommendations regarding passwords: Prohibit guessable passwords such as common names, real words, numbers only require special characters and a mix of caps, lower case and numbers in passwords Reauthenticate before changing passwords user must enter old pw before creating new one Make authenticators unforgeable do not allow email or user ID as password Using WORD, write a brief paper of words explaining each of these security recommendations. Do you agree or disagree with these recommendations. Would you change, add or delete any of these? Add additional criteria as you see necessary.

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Paper For Above instruction

In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, robust password policies are fundamental to protecting sensitive information and maintaining organizational integrity. The recommendations provided by IT security consultants serve as a core framework for developing secure password practices, and examining each provides insight into their effectiveness and areas for potential enhancement.

The first recommendation emphasizes prohibiting guessable passwords such as common names, real words, or simple numerical sequences. Human tendencies lean toward choosing easily memorable passwords, which malicious actors often exploit through brute-force or dictionary attacks. By disallowing frequently used or predictable passwords, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Encouraging complex passwords that incorporate a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters further enhances security. Complex passwords increase the difficulty for attackers attempting to crack passwords using automated tools. This aligns with best practices identified by cybersecurity experts, emphasizing that password complexity is vital in thwarting password guessing attacks (Das et al., 2014).

Requiring reauthentication before changing passwords is another crucial safeguard. This process ensures that the individual requesting a password change is genuinely the account owner and not an attacker who has gained temporary access or is attempting to hijack the account. Requiring the user to enter their existing password before setting a new one adds a layer of verification, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized modifications. This practice fortifies account security by confirming user identity at both the point of authentication and during password updates (Florêncio & Herley, 2010).

The third recommendation pertains to the creation of unforgeable authenticators. Authenticators, such as passwords, should not be easily replicable or guessable. The advice to avoid using email addresses or user IDs as passwords is critical because such identifiers are often publicly accessible or easily discoverable, especially if users reuse passwords across multiple platforms. Using unique, random, and complex passwords significantly enhances security, making it considerably more difficult for attackers to forge or predict authenticators. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) further solidifies this defense, adding another barrier that an attacker must bypass (Bonneau et al., 2012).

Considering these recommendations collectively, they form a robust approach to password security. However, I would suggest some modifications and additional criteria to strengthen security further. For example, organizations should enforce regular password changes while balancing the risk of password fatigue. Moreover, password managers can assist users in generating and securely storing complex passwords, alleviating the human burden of creating and recalling strong credentials (Adams & Sasse, 1999).

Additionally, integrating Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is increasingly vital and should be mandated wherever feasible. MFA combines something the user knows (password), with something the user possesses (security token or mobile device) or something inherent to the user (biometrics). This multi-layered approach dramatically reduces the likelihood of successful breaches (Vidas, 2019).

Furthermore, education around password security is paramount. Users should be informed about the importance of not sharing passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and understanding the risks of password reuse. These practices complement technical measures, fostering a security-aware culture within organizations.

In conclusion, these recommendations represent a sound foundation for secure password management. However, incorporating multidimensional strategies such as password managers, MFA, and comprehensive user education can markedly enhance overall security posture. As cyber threats continue to evolve, so must the methods and criteria we employ to safeguard digital assets.

References

1. Adams, A., & Sasse, M. A. (1999). Users are not the enemy. Communications of the ACM, 42(12), 40-46.
2. Bonneau, J., Herley, C., Van Oorschot, P. C., & Stajano, F. (2012). The quest to replace passwords: A framework for comparative evaluation of Web authentication schemes. Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, 553-567.
3. Das, A., Fahl, S., Perl, H., & Smith, M. (2014). The security of modern password expiration: an algorithmic and psychological analysis. IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, 2014, 523-536.
4. Florêncio, D., & Herley, C. (2010). A large-scale study of web password habits. Proceedings of the USENIX Security Symposium, 2010, 1-16.
5. Vidas, T. (2019). Multi-factor authentication: a security game changer. IEEE Security & Privacy, 17(2), 61-67.