Our intense online lives require us to protect our data with countless complex passwords, made up of a mix of letters, digits, and special characters. But the requirements for these complex passwords often lead to frustration and frequent lockouts.
Today, modern devices and login systems offer a better method: password phrases, a sequence of words or text to access a system. These password phrases are superior to traditional “complex” passwords due to a strong combination of advantages: they are easy to remember, yet very difficult for humans or computers to guess. This is why they are recommended by NIST for advanced protection.
The problem with complex passwords
Complex passwords can be problematic for several reasons. In general, they are hard to remember because they combine letters, numbers, and special characters, which can increase vulnerability if stored insecurely or shared with others, and also cause user frustration from having to enter them repeatedly, especially if they are too complex.
Easy to remember
Since password phrases offer advanced security due to their length, not the complexity of their characters, they are much easier for humans to remember than a sequence of numbers, letters, and symbols. A password phrase can be anything: from a song lyric to a favorite quote, a personal motto, or an inside joke, making it easier to read and type.
Hard to crack
Length adds extra complexity for cybercriminals and a higher chance that your password phrase is completely different from any previously exposed. While a powerful computer can try every possible combination of a 12-character password in seconds, passwords of at least 15 characters—in essence, a short phrase, including spaces—will take exponentially longer.
The transition to password phrases
Currently, the main limitation for adopting password phrases in business environments comes from older equipment, which has character limitations and outdated password requirements. However, the dual advantage of password phrases has become the most requested feature by Kingston IronKey customers. This is why Kingston has incorporated password phrase capability into many devices in the IronKey hardware-encrypted Flash storage line, such as the IronKey Keypad 200 (which uses an alphanumeric keypad on the device itself), the IronKey Locker+ 50, and the Vault Privacy 50 USB series, as well as the Vault Privacy 80 external SSDs.
These devices allow users to select Password Phrase mode and support phrases up to 64 characters long. This way, users have the flexibility to set long password phrases that better protect their data against breach attempts and are easier to remember because they are a series of meaningful words.
Choosing a password phrase can be a good option because it can be easier to remember, more secure, less susceptible to brute-force attacks, and easier to type. It’s important to choose a phrase that is meaningful and personal to the user and meets recommended security requirements.
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About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
From big data to laptops and PCs, including IoT-based devices such as smart technology and wearables, Kingston helps manufacturers integrate solutions that are used to live, work, and play. The world’s largest PC manufacturers and cloud storage companies rely on Kingston to meet their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to have a broader vision, meet our customers’ needs, and deliver solutions that make a difference. For more information on how Kingston is with you, visit Kingston.com.
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