Why Passphrases Are Better Than Passwords

🔐 I thought it was just me… but I broke it for everyone 😅 I was trying to change my MFA settings. Just for myself. Nothing major. The screen said: “User Authentication Failed.” So I assumed it was only affecting my login. But nah. Turns out, the change affected everyone. Nobody could sign in. That one line — “User Authentication” — made it seem like a personal issue. But it wasn’t. That’s when I realised: Wording matters. A small message like that can mislead even admins. When error messages aren’t clear, people waste time — and things get worse. No anger, just a lesson: Make your tools clear. Especially the ones people rely on.

It’s time to go beyond passwords and start using “something you are” for authentication. An OFFPAD aren’t tied to a specific computer or mobile. You choose when to activate and where to authenticate. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eiSMgABw

🔑 Password or Passphrase: What’s the difference? Password: Usually short, often a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Looks like "P@ssw0rd1!" Passphrase: A longer string of words or a sentence that’s easier to remember but much harder to crack. Looks like "PurpleCoffeeMugUnderTheStars" 👉 Why it matters: Passphrases are typically stronger because length beats complexity. They’re easier for you to remember and harder for attackers to guess. 💡 Tip: Turn a sentence or random words into your login key. It’s like upgrading your lock from a padlock to a vault door.

I get it—handing out admin rights feels easier in the moment. But that “*” permission is basically a hacker’s dream come true. Start small with access, add more if needed, and turn on MFA. It’s a little extra work now that saves you a nightmare later.

Having your users perform simple character replacement, especially "a" to "@" and "1" to "!", are not effective password complexity measures.

Here's how to use Bitwarden to manage all of your passwords. No more "forgot my password" clicks. No more getting hacked.

Think your password is strong? Think again. Tips to Stay Secure -Use a unique password for every account -Combine letters, numbers & symbols -Enable two-factor authentication -Use a trusted password manager

MFA is your everyday seatbelt A small extra step every time you signed in that can prevent a MAJOR CRASH if your passwords are stolen. Start here: - Enable MFA on email, file storage, and donor systems - Train staff to use authenticator apps instead of SMS when possible. It's not eye-catching, but like a seat belt, it's one of the simplest ways to stay protected every day. Where has MFA made the biggest difference for your team?

If I have access to someone’s text messages, then even if their Gmail or any other account has two-factor authentication enabled, I can simply click on ‘Forgot Password,’ reset it, and receive the OTP through their SMS. In that case, it’s essentially just one-factor authentication—so where is the second factor?

IT Support Tip of the Day Forgot your password? Before calling IT, try the self-service password reset option if your company provides it. It’s faster, secure, and saves you time. #ITSupport #TechTips #Productivity #PasswordHelp #ITHelp