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Passwords Passwords are an integral part of overall security. Unfortunately, they are one of the vulnerabilities most frequently targeted by someone trying to break into a system. There are several ways an unauthorized person (i.e., hacker/cracker) might try to gain knowledge of another person's password. Often, people use personal information such as their own or a family member's name as a password. This is one of the first things a hacker or cracker might try. A more sophisticated method is password-cracking software. Most of these programs can 'crack' a password within seconds by using large dictionary files and lists of common names or passwords. Another type, known as a 'brute force' attack, attempts every possible combination of letters, numbers or special characters. However, a brute force attack can take up to days or months depending on the strength of your password. If your password is compromised, then anything your user account is able to access could be at risk. There are numerous ways that you can help protect your password and our information. The next pages will teach you how to create stronger passwords and properly protect them.
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