World Password Day


When:
May 1, 2025 all-day
2025-05-01T00:00:00-04:00
2025-05-02T00:00:00-04:00

Still using your cat’s name followed by an “&” for your 401(k) account password? Sorry, but that’s just not enough to protect your life savings in 2019. Here’s a term you need to know on World Password Day:

This refers to adding strong authentication to your important passwords to prevent identity theft and other cybercrimes.

Intel created World Password Day — the first Thursday of May (May 4) — to address the critical need for solid passwords. It’s simple, really. Most operating systems offer an easy way to create and store passwords. Apple’s “Keychain Access” is one example. You can also go online to generate passwords which are practically hacker-proof.

In other words, “e9UBct*35TwhT&p/’e{:y}” is the new “MisterWhiskers.”

WHEN IS WORLD PASSWORD DAY 2023?

Strengthen your passwords to keep your data safe on World Password Day, which takes place on the first Thursday in May — May 4 this year.

HISTORY OF WORLD PASSWORD DAY

Secret Organizations, like the Masons and other fraternal organizations, also often asked for passwords before letting you through the door.

World Password Day creates awareness about the importance of strong passwords, and why everyone should change their passwords once every few weeks. One compromised password can put our digital identities and personal information at risk.

Strong and secure passwords are crucial, especially now that most of our work is done online. It is better to have complex and unique passwords, which are not easy to guess. It happens to the best of us; as much as we try to convince ourselves that no one will be able to guess our passwords, professional hackers can guess them in seconds! Even if a strong password is in place, it should be changed once every few weeks, or even months. This way, even if your passwords are leaked in a data breach, a new, stronger password can avert access to your personal information.

Sadly, despite knowing the risks, not many people are habitual about frequently changing their passwords. Take World Password Day as your cue to immediately change the passwords of your emails, social media accounts, and most importantly, accounts storing your personal information.

In 2005, Security Researcher Mark Burnett suggested that everyone should have their own “password days” when they change their passwords. He outlined this idea in his book “Perfect Passwords,” which inspired the company Intel to create a worldwide observance. The first Thursday in May was declared World Password Day and it was observed for the first time in 2013.

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