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
| Local opticians focus on Macmillan fundraising AN OPTICIANS in Belper marked its 11th year supporting Macmillan Cancer Support by raising more than £500 as part of the charity’s read more | |
| Derbyshire On Track To Clear Pothole Backlog Derbyshire County Council is on track to clear its pothole backlog by mid-October, following significant investment in its highways serv read more | |
| Somercotes Library To Temporarily Close For Five Months Somercotes Library is to temporarily close for five months from 10 November due to nearby building work which is affecting th read more | |
| Olympic Taekwondo Star Bianca Walkden to Visit Alfreton, Derbyshire Olympic Taekwondo Star Bianca Walkden to Visit Derbyshire for Women’s Empowerment Fitness Event read more | |
| Could Becoming A School Crossing Patrol Change Your Life? When Billy Morley began helping children cross Derbyshire roads safely on their way to school he had no idea the impact it read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| 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 | |
| Can You Help DREAM Paranormal With Their Research My name is Simon Dean, Lead Investigator of DREAM paranormal and I am looking for your help. read more | |
