Password Security: History, Myths, and Modern Approaches

Passwords are a central part of our digital lives. Even in the Star Wars universe, codes and passwords play a crucial role: In Return of the Jedi, Han Solo and his team approach the second Death Star in a stolen Imperial shuttle. When Imperial officers check their credentials, one says: “It’s an older code, sir, but it checks out.” This moment highlights a timeless security risk-relying on outdated or weak codes can have serious consequences, whether you’re defending a galaxy or your own data. Yet despite their importance, there are countless misunderstandings and poor practices around passwords. In this article, we’ll look at the history of passwords, highlight important initiatives like “World Password Day,” and analyze modern approaches to improving password security.

Ancient Origins

Passwords aren’t a digital invention. Even in ancient times, they were used to control access to military or secret areas. A famous example is the biblical “Shibboleth,” used to identify friend or foe. The Romans also used “watchwords” to secure their troops.

The First Digital Password

The first digital password was created in 1961 by Fernando Corbató at MIT. He introduced the concept in the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) to allow multiple users secure access to a shared computer. Interestingly, just two years later, the system was hacked when a user printed out the password files and accessed other accounts.

Key Initiatives: Change Your Password Day & World Password Day

Change Your Password Day

Started in 2012 by Matt Buchanan after he was hacked, this day is observed every February 1st to encourage users to update passwords regularly and use stronger measures like two-factor authentication (2FA).

World Password Day

Held on the first Thursday in May each year, this initiative was inspired by security expert Mark Burnett, who suggested a day to raise password security awareness in his book “Perfect Passwords” (2005). Intel officially established World Password Day in 2013.

Password Security: Myths and Facts

Myth: Complexity is Key

Many believe that passwords with special characters like “Tr0ub4dor&3” are especially secure. But the famous XKCD comic shows these often only have about 28 bits of entropy and are easy to crack-plus, they’re hard to remember. A longer passphrase like “correct horse battery staple” offers 44 bits of entropy, is more secure, and easier to remember.

Fact: Length Beats Complexity

The length of a password is more important than its complexity. A long password or passphrase increases the number of possible combinations exponentially, making it harder for attackers to crack.

Myth: Frequent Changes Increase Security

It used to be recommended to change passwords regularly. Today, we know this is often counterproductive: users fall back on predictable patterns, like “123456#2024” → “123456#2025.” Passwords should only be changed if there’s suspicion of compromise-or if a password manager can generate a new one.

Fact: Password Policies Are Outdated

Many websites still require short, complex passwords instead of long, memorable ones. For example:

• Meta: 6 characters, 1 special, 1 letter, 1 number

• Sparkasse: 8 characters, 1 special, 1 letter, 1 number

• Google: 8 characters, 1 special, 1 letter, 1 number

• LinkedIn: 8 characters, 1 special, 1 letter, 1 number

• Amazon: 8 characters (even “11111111” is accepted)

Fact: Many Passwords Are Still Stored in Plaintext

Just last year, a misconfigured cloud database exposed nearly 20 million passwords in plaintext. The “rockyou2024.txt” leak is another recent example. Many companies use default configurations that allow plaintext storage, and sometimes memory dumps can be read, as shown by the CCC in late 2024. There’s even a “plaintextoffenders” list of companies that have stored passwords in plaintext at some point.

Real-World Challenges

Many people use the same password for multiple accounts or slight variations like “123456#fb” for Facebook and “123456#gm” for Gmail. This increases the risk of credential stuffing, where stolen credentials from one site are used on others, fun fact: "starwars" is the 110th most used password in 2024.

The sheer number of accounts leads to “password fatigue.” To avoid remembering endless combinations, users turn to insecure practices like reusing simple passwords.

We developers share some blame. Many of us, under time pressure, rely on default security settings in frameworks, which are often inadequate and lack modern cryptography. There’s also a lack of knowledge about secure coding and current standards, which leads to vulnerabilities. Legacy software makes things worse, using outdated tech that doesn’t support modern encryption or multi-factor authentication. Better training in secure software development is essential to minimize these risks.

Modern Approaches to Security

Password Managers

A password manager can create and store secure, unique passwords for every account. This removes the need to remember complex combinations. Before moving your passwords to a manager, check their security-many offer this feature. Lists of the most-used passwords in different countries show that people often use hobbies, politics, or their own name. Data breaches can expose these details. Sites like “Have I Been Pwned” let you check if your data has been leaked-or if someone else uses your password.

Multi-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA adds another layer-like an SMS code or biometric data. Microsoft says 99.9% of attacks can be prevented with 2FA.

Passkeys: The Passwordless Future

Passkeys use cryptographic key pairs and eliminate the need for traditional passwords. They protect against phishing and data leaks, since no shared secrets are stored.

Lessons from the Past – Solutions for the Future

The history of passwords shows their evolutionary weaknesses-from simple watchwords to complex digital combos. Modern tech like 2FA and passkeys offer promising alternatives.

Recommendations for Users:

• Use a password manager.

• Choose long passphrases over complex combos.

• Enable multi-factor authentication.

• Change passwords only if needed or if compromised.

With these measures, we can boost personal security and contribute to global cybersecurity-a challenge that’s only growing in our digital world. May the fourth be with you!

ℹ️ This post was created in collaboration with pep.digital GmbH. The content was produced as part of my professional work and is shared here with permission.