Top tips for password security: World Password Day
World Password Day is a global awareness event celebrated annually on the first Thursday of May. It’s a day dedicated to promoting effective password management strategies. It reminds us of the importance of protecting ourselves by using strong passwords and helps people to improve the passwords that they use for their important online accounts. It is also a good day to explore resources that can help you learn more about cybersecurity.
History of World Password Day
Mark Burnet – a security researcher, first encouraged people to have a password day where they update important passwords in his book Perfect Passwords, published in 2005. Intel Security was inspired by his idea, and in 2013, declared the first Thursday of May as World Password Day.
Why are strong passwords so important?
Managing passwords across many devices can become a chore, particularly if you need to log in to a site that requires you to enter the password manually every time.
A survey by Bitwarden shows that around two-thirds of people still rely on their memory when it comes to passwords, but one in five people have to change their passwords several times a week due to the inability to remember them. Not only that, but a recent survey also showed 15% of people in the UK use their pet’s name as their password!
43% of Britons don’t use a password manager as they believe their memory or computer/phone storage is effective enough. In the same study, only 46% of Brits are familiar with password security best practices.
Top tips for password hygiene
Password managers help users generate and store strong, unique credentials safely in an encrypted vault, protected by a single master password. They reduce the temptation to use insecure workarounds, such as keeping passwords on sticky notes or reusing old ones with minor tweaks and allow teams to manage credentials more effectively.
Depending on organisational needs, password managers can be cloud-based, device-specific, or browser-integrated, each with its own advantages and risks. Crucially, organisations should look for features such as strong encryption (AES-256), zero-knowledge architecture, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and centralised admin controls to ensure maximum security and usability.
While password managers are an essential tool, they’re not a silver bullet.
Like any software, they must be properly configured and regularly updated to stay secure. Pairing them with MFA and robust password policies further reduces the risk of credential compromise, a critical step as phishing and brute-force attacks continue to rise.
On this World Password Day, take the opportunity to review how your organisation manages passwords, and explore how adopting a password manager can improve both security and efficiency.
👉 Read our full blog on password managers and best practices for a deeper look at how to choose and implement the right solution for your organisation.
- Sign up and use a password manager tool. Some of the best password managers include LastPass, 1Password, and LogMeOnce.
- Change old passwords to be longer and stronger. Use a mixture of Uppercase and lowercase letters, digits and symbols.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA), on your accounts wherever possible.
- Don’t store passwords on your computer or phone. Try not to write down passwords on pieces of paper, use a manager tool as stated above.
- Password protect your wireless router to ensure outsiders cannot gain access to your personal information.
- Log out when you’ve finished with a programme.
Does your organisation need support with best practice for cybersecurity?
If you would like some expert help from our cybersecurity consultants, we can help. Not only do we offer phishing awareness training and assessments, but we also offer cyber incident response, supply chain security and employee awareness training. Our security consultants have experience working with small to large teams alike, across multiple industries and are expertly placed to ensure you get the most out of your engagement, strengthening your security posture and helping to mitigate cyber attacks and potential breaches.
Talk to our friendly team today!
