Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- An 8-character password can be cracked in 37 seconds, while a 16-character one would take over a century.
- Longer passwords with a mix of characters provide better protection against hacking.
In the article “How long does it take a hacker to crack one of your passwords in 2024?” published by Euronews, it is highlighted that the length and complexity of a password play a significant role in determining how long it would take a hacker to crack it. According to IT firm Hive Systems, a simple 8-character password can be cracked in a matter of seconds using brute force, while a 16-character password would take over 100 years to crack.
The article emphasizes the importance of updating passwords to be longer and contain a mix of characters, as this significantly increases the time required for a hacker to crack them. With the improvement of password encryption measures, longer passwords offer better protection against cyber attacks. Despite the common practice of requiring passwords to be at least 8 characters long with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, experts suggest that it may be time to upgrade this requirement to enhance security.
Furthermore, the article discusses the implications of using randomly generated passwords versus reused or dictionary-based passwords. Strong, unique passwords are recommended to minimize the risk of hacking, and password managers are highlighted as a popular solution for securely storing and managing complex logins. Additionally, websites often implement security features such as limiting login trials and utilizing two-factor authentication to prevent fraudulent access to sensitive information.
While the time required to crack passwords may vary based on their length, complexity, and encryption methods, it is essential for individuals to prioritize password security by creating strong, unique passwords and utilizing security measures to safeguard their online accounts.
