Creating a ‘strong password’ that meets the criteria can be frustrating – they likely must include at least one number, symbol or upper case letter.
Tech experts have shared a simple trick that helps create an iron-clad passcode because hackers must go through about 3,700 variants to unravel it – adding emojis to the mix.
There are more than 3,600 standardized emojis in Unicode, and using up to five is equivalent to a regular password of nine characters, or seven emojis are equal to a strong password of 13 ‘regular’ characters.
Along with creating a nearly unhackable password, people might find it easier to remember whimsical icons instead of ‘a meaningless jumble of letters and numbers.’
Along with creating a nearly unhackable password, people might find it easier to remember whimsical icons instead of ‘a meaningless jumble of letters and numbers’
The suggestion comes from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky’s Stan Kaminsky, who shared the ‘life hack’ in a blog post.
‘Various hacking tools and dictionaries for cracking passwords include combinations of words, numbers, and common substitutions like E1iteP4$$w0rd,’ Kaminsky wrote.
‘So when an attacker goes through a leaked password database, your account protected with a [insert emojis that mean ‘I believe I can fly’] password is very likely safe.’
He noted that creating a phrase with emoticons is the best way to use them for passwords.
For example, you can create book and movie titles, like ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ using a girl, rabbit, hole and top hat.
The tech expert noted that creating a phrase with emoticons is the best way to use them for passwords. For example, you can make book titles, like ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ using a girl, rabbit, hole and top hat (pictured)
However, Kaminsky warned that using emojis in a passcode is a downside – the small images can slow down the login process because they are more difficult to enter than letters, numbers and symbols
However, Kaminsky warned that using emojis in a passcode is a downside – the small images can slow down the login process because they are more difficult to enter than letters, numbers and symbols.
‘On smartphones, entering emoji is simplicity itself,’ he shared.
‘On desktop computers, however, it can be a bit more troublesome — though not excessively so (see below for details). In any case, you’ll have to find the emojis you need in a long list, making sure to select the right picture from several similar ones.
‘If you cross-platform, remember to check you can enter these emojis on both your computer and smartphone for all services you use.’
Another issue is that people have favorite emojis they use on social media, and a bad actor following your every move will likely attempt to use them to crack your code.
