Warning to East Midlands bosses: Could your password be guessed from your digital footprint?
A surprising number of passwords can be guessed by cyber criminals studying someone’s digital footprint, a local data security expert has warned.
“The internet never forgets content you posted years ago,” said Glen Palmer-Barnes from Eastwood based Ace IT Solutions, “even though you do.”
“Cyber criminals use a range of tools to try to access a business’s accounts. Automated tools that brute force try thousands of weak passwords are popular.
“But so is social engineering, where they will study a person’s digital footprint to look for ideas. You might consider using your childhood dog’s name to be a safe password, but it probably isn’t.
“Especially when you did a Facebook post 7 years ago about how much you miss your dog… including its name.”
Glen explained that everyone has a digital footprint – information about them that can be accessed by anyone online.
Bosses of local companies might be careful about what they post today. But cyber criminals will look up content from when they were much younger.
“It’s important to use a different password for each account. The National Cyber Security Centre advises using three random words to create a longer difficult to guess password.”, Glen added.
“You can also use software called a password manager to remember these passwords for you, and fill in the login boxes across all of your devices.”
Ace IT Solutions was formed in 2014 and specialises in supporting local businesses in the Nottingham, Derby and the East Midlands.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Consultation Events To Help People Have Their Say A series of consultation events have been arranged to help people have their say on proposals to change the way adult education is read more | |
| Boyband royalty JLS to play the 2026 Darley Park Weekender Get ready to dance the night away with a perfect Saturday night of pop at the Darley Park Weekender 2026. We are excited t read more | |
| Winter Driving Safety Advice Following Snow and Ice Across Derbyshire A significant amount of snow and ice has been experienced across Derbyshire over the weekend, resulting in nume read more | |
| Mobile speed camera locations in Derbyshire during January 2026 Derbyshire Casualty Reduction Enforcement Support Team (C.R.E.S.T) will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcem read more | |
| Fitness classes for older adults coming to Crich in January A new fitness programme that helps older people to turn back the clock is soon to arrive in Crich. read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
| When you need to call 999 but can't talk When you need to call 999 but can't talk - the ‘silent solution’ can help. Press 55 on your mobile when prompted, to confirm you are in read more | |
| The opening night of the Lights of Abraham Winter Lights Trail The brand new winter lights trail, the 'Lights of Abraham' opened on Friday 22nd November at the Heights of Abraham in read more | |
