Password security

"123456" — indha password 2025 la um world's most used password! 😱 Every year millions of accounts hack aaguradhu weak passwords because of.

Un password is like un veettu key 🔑. Weak key = easy break-in. Strong key = thieves give up.

Indha article la strong passwords, password managers, passkeys, and modern authentication — ellam paapom! 🔒

2025 la most common passwords (please don't use these! 🤦):

Shocking fact: Top 200 passwords la 80% 1 second ku ulle crack pannidalam. Un password indha list la irundha — IPPO CHANGE PANNUNGA! 🚨

Hackers epdhi passwords crack pannuranga:

🔨 Brute Force — Every possible combination try pannuradhu

• "aaaa", "aaab", "aaac"... systematically try
• Short passwords ku fast, long passwords ku years pidikkum

📖 Dictionary Attack — Common words and passwords list use

• "password", "admin", "letmein" — these first try pannuvanga
• Name + birthday combinations um try pannuvanga

🎯 Credential Stuffing — Leaked passwords other sites la try

• LinkedIn leak la un password kedachaa, Gmail la um try pannuvanga
• Same password reuse pannuradhu dhaan problem!

🌈 Rainbow Table — Pre-computed hash values

• Common passwords ku hashes already calculated
• Hash match panna — password found!

⚡ GPU Cracking — Modern GPUs billions of guesses per second

• 8-char password: minutes la crack
• 12-char password: years la crack
• 16-char password: centuries la crack

Strong password create panna follow these rules:

✅ Length: Minimum 12 characters (16+ best)

✅ Mix: Uppercase + lowercase + numbers + symbols

✅ Unique: Every account ku different password

✅ Random: No personal info (name, birthday, pet name)

✅ Unpredictable: No common patterns (Password1!, Qwerty123)

Passphrase method (best approach!):

Instead of: P@ssw0rd! (weak, hard to remember)

Use: "MyCoffeeShopIn_Chennai_Has42_Flavors!" (strong, easy to remember)

Formula: [Adjective][Noun][Symbol][Place][Symbol][Number][Noun][Symbol]

Example: "BlueTiger@Marina#2026Beach!"

Long + memorable = perfect password! 🎯

100+ accounts ku unique strong passwords remember pannuradhu impossible. Solution: Password Manager! 🗝️

How it works:

1. One master password remember pannunga (make it STRONG!)
2. Manager generates unique passwords for every site
3. Auto-fills login forms
4. Syncs across all devices
5. Encrypted vault — even the company can't read your passwords

Start today: Bitwarden install pannunga — free, open-source, best! 🏆

Passkeys = Passwordless login! 🚀

Passwords completely replace pannura new standard. Google, Apple, Microsoft — major companies support pannuranga.

How passkeys work:

1. Website la passkey create pannunga
2. Device generates key pair (public + private)
3. Public key → server la store aagum
4. Private key → un device la (secure chip)
5. Login time — biometric verify → automatic login!

Passkeys vs Passwords:

Where to use: Google, Apple, Microsoft, GitHub, Amazon — passkey support start pannirukku. Enable pannunga! ✅

Un password already internet la leak aagirukkalam! 😱 Check pannunga:

🔍 haveibeenpwned.com — Enter un email, check if any breaches

- Troy Hunt maintain panra trusted service

- Billions of leaked credentials database

- Free to check

If breached:

1. Immediately password change pannunga

2. All sites where same password used — change pannunga

3. 2FA enable pannunga

4. Password manager start using

Major breaches:

- Yahoo (2013): 3 billion accounts

- LinkedIn (2021): 700 million users

- Facebook (2019): 533 million users

- Twitter (2023): 200 million emails

Un data already out there irukkalam — check and protect yourself NOW! 🛡️

2FA enable pannunga — takes 5 minutes, saves from 99.9% attacks!

Best 2FA methods (ranked):

1. 🔑 Hardware Key (YubiKey) — Most secure, phishing-proof
2. 📱 Authenticator App — Google Authenticator, Authy
3. 📧 Email OTP — Okay, but email can be hacked
4. 📲 SMS OTP — Least secure (SIM swap attacks)

Setup steps (Google account):

1. Go to myaccount.google.com/security
2. Click "2-Step Verification"
3. Choose method (Authenticator app recommended)
4. Scan QR code with authenticator app
5. Enter 6-digit code to verify
6. Save backup codes safely! 📋

Important: SMS 2FA > No 2FA. But Authenticator app > SMS. Hardware key > Everything. Use what you can! 💪

Innikke start pannunga — 30 minutes dhaan pudikkum:

Step 1 (5 min): haveibeenpwned.com la un email check pannunga

Step 2 (5 min): Bitwarden install pannunga (free!)

Step 3 (10 min): Most important accounts — bank, email, social — passwords change pannunga

Step 4 (5 min): Google, Instagram, bank — 2FA enable pannunga

Step 5 (5 min): Passkey available iruntha enable pannunga

Priority accounts (change these FIRST):

1. 📧 Email (gateway to everything)
2. 🏦 Banking apps
3. 📱 Social media
4. ☁️ Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud)
5. 🛒 Shopping sites (Amazon, Flipkart)

Password security recap:

✅ 12+ characters minimum, 16+ recommended

✅ Passphrase method for memorable strong passwords

✅ Unique password for every account

✅ Password manager — Bitwarden (free, secure)

✅ 2FA enable — Authenticator app preferred

✅ Passkeys — future of auth, enable where available

✅ Never reuse passwords across sites

✅ Check breaches — haveibeenpwned.com

Next article: "Network Basics" — networking fundamentals for cybersecurity! 🌐

Challenge: Password Security Audit & Migration

Oru week time la un passwords secure pannunga:

1. Current Password Audit — All active accounts list pannunga (email, banking, social, work). Each password check pannunga haveibeenpwned.com la — breached irukkara verify pannunga.

1. Password Generator Practice — Oru password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass) install pannunga. Random strong passwords generate pannum. 16+ characters, mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols.

1. Password Manager Migration — Un 20 most important accounts passwords password manager la import pannunga. Master password set pannunga (extra strong).

1. 2FA Setup — Password manager enabled accounts la 2FA enable pannunga. Authenticator app (Google Authenticator / Authy) backup codes save pannunga (secure location la).

1. Weak Password Replacement — Old weak passwords identify pannu. Password manager use panni strong passwords generate panni replace pannunga. Un spreadsheet monthly update pannunga.

1. Breach Monitoring — haveibeenpwned.com email address subscribe pannunga. Future breaches happen-ael automatically notify aagum.

Certificate: Nee password security expert! 🔐

Q1: Strong password na enna? Example solu.

A: 12+ characters, mix of uppercase (A-Z), lowercase (a-z), numbers (0-9), symbols (!@#$%). Example: "Tr0pic4l!Mang0#2025". Avoid: birthdate, pet name, dictionary words, sequential characters.

Q2: Password vs Passkey — which is better?

A: Passkey modern, more secure (no typing vulnerability). But adoption still growing. Now dual support — passwords + passkeys. Transition gradually — passkey enable pannunga, password backup maintain pannunga for now.

Q3: Password manager security risks?

A: Password manager compromise-ael all passwords at risk. But master password strong-um, 2FA enable-um iruntha very secure. Reputation check pannunga — Bitwarden, 1Password reputed. Open-source options (KeePass) safer considered sometimes.

Q4: Company la password policy enna maintain pannuradhu?

A: Minimum 12 characters, complexity requirements (uppercase, numbers, symbols), no reuse (last 5 passwords), expiration policy (optional now — NIST recommends only on breach), SSO prefer pannunga (passwords reduce pannum).

Q5: Forgotten password situation — company la recovery process enna?

A: Security questions, email verification, SMS OTP, security team manual review. Multi-factor verification use pannunga. Identity theft prevent pannum.