In our ever-expanding digital world, passwords are unavoidable: emails, apps, subscriptions and loyalty programs – almost everything is designed to be secure behind a self-defined code that allows entry. According to technology site TechCo, the average person has about 100 passwords, so it’s no surprise that when creating a new account, individuals can sometimes get lazy with the choice of words. However, there is a new risk related to password vulnerabilities: artificial intelligence.
A new report from Home Security Hero found that 51% of common passwords can be cracked in less than a minute using an AI password cracker, and 81% can be cracked in less than a month.
Home Security Heroes used the AI password cracker PassGAN to sift through a list of 15,680,000 passwords. The chances of the AI cracking its password increase when a password contains minimal characters and lacks variety (using only lowercase letters, only numbers, etc.). Yet he found that it took PassGAN less than six minutes to crack a seven-character password, even if it contained symbols.
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How to set an AI-proof password:
According to findings from Home Security Heroes, it takes much longer for the AI to crack a password with more characters and variety. Essentially: the more the password and the more letters, numbers and symbols you use, the safer it is from the AI.
A 14-character password made up of upper and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers takes an average of 187 million years for AI to crack, as opposed to a seven-character password made up of only uppercase letters. and lowercase – which takes the AI an average of 22 seconds to crack.
Although it may take longer, if you want to ensure password security as AI technology advances, it’s best to keep your passwords at least 10 characters long, with a combination of upper and lower case letters, symbols and numbers.
Related: How AI is Shaping the Cybersecurity Landscape – Exploring the Benefits and Limitations
