October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and all month long we are spotlighting real cybercriminals and the practical steps you can take to protect yourself and our campus community.
Meet "dpxaker"
Dariy Pankov (known online as "dpxaker") sold password-cracking software to criminals for just $250, giving hackers the ability to test thousands of password combinations every second using advanced computing and AI.
Hackers using tools like the one created by "dpxaker" love weak passwords. Pet names, birthdays, short passwords, and reused passwords make their job much easier.
Don't Make Life Easy for "dpxaker"
Protect your accounts by following these password best practices:
- Use passwords that are at least 16 characters long
- Create a unique password for every account
- Use a random mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
- Use a password manager to generate and securely store strong passwords
Think password length doesn't matter? An 8-character password can be cracked in seconds, even with special characters. A random 16-character password can take billions of years to crack, making it far less attractive to attackers.
Why Passwords Matter
Campus accounts provide access to valuable information, including email, coursework, research, payroll, and university systems. Strong, unique passwords are one of the easiest ways to help keep that information secure. Don't make it easy for them! Strengthen your passwords today and make life much harder for cybercriminals like "dpxaker".
Keep Learning, Stay Protected
Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your cybersecurity knowledge, explore additional tips and resources from ITS.
During the month of October, expand your knowledge by participating in the Big Ten Academic Alliance Cybersecurity Awareness Month events. These events provide valuable insights from cybersecurity experts, practical guidance on today's most common threats, and helpful strategies for protecting your personal and professional information.