Passwords serve as the foundation of our digital lives, but they also serve as the gateway for cybercriminals to hack into sensitive personal information. Considering their essential function, passwords remain a prime target for increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal attacks.

Therefore, taking proactive measures to safeguard accounts and personal information is imperative.

To mark World Password Day on May 2nd – highlighting the essential role passwords play in protecting our lives online – Kaspersky experts are providing essential tips to enhance password security, ensuring that users data stays out of the hands of attackers.

Weak and simple passwords have always been an attractive target for scammers as cracking them gives criminals access to multiple types of data – personal data, financial information, medical records etc.

Kaspersky telemetry indicates more than 32 million attempts to attack users with password stealers took place in 2023, this followed more than 40 million incursions in 2022.

These alarming statistics highlight the need for users to create strong, unique and varied passwords for different accounts. This way they can mitigate the risks of cyber threats and maintain personal security online.

To enhance password security, Kaspersky experts recommend the following steps and practices:

The ‘association method’ helps create strong and memorable passwords

The association approach involves creating a password from a sequence of words or ideas that have personal significance but are not easily guessable by others. A password can be based on a favourite quote, a memorable song lyric, or a unique combination of objects. This technique generates strong passwords without requiring complex memorisation, helping to maintain security while reducing the risk of forgetting. For example, a phrase “I first visited Paris in 2008” could be transformed into a password “IfvPin2o:o8”.

Are regular passwords too boring? How about emoji?

If using the same password everywhere becomes too much and you lack the imagination to make up something new, emoji-passwords could be a non-standard and safe option. Since they are a part of the Unicode standard, it is potentially possible to use them as passwords.

One of the most significant pros is that scammers cannot brute-force emoji-passwords, since various tools and dictionaries can’t crack combinations like these. More detailed information on how to set up an emoji password and the necessary requirements is available here.

The most obvious option is not the safest one

Using common passwords or default values such as “1234”, “password” or “admin” could make personal data and accounts vulnerable to scammers, since they use automated tools to guess the correct combinations.

It may take several seconds to find the right answer and gain access to personal data. A strong and complicated password includes a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, while avoiding personal information such as names or birthdays.

Additionally, there are online public free services that allow everyone check how strong their passwords are to mitigate possible risks.

Old, but gold: one account – one password

This practice ensures that if one account is compromised, others remain secure. By creating a unique password for each account, you minimise the damage a hacker can do if they manage to steal one.

This approach isolates security breaches and helps protect sensitive data. According to a global survey, the average user has approximately 8 accounts. Remembering even 2-3 long and complicated passwords (containing up to 15 symbols) could be impossible for the majority of users.

In this case it is both safe and useful to shift the responsibility of remembering all the passwords to a security solution, such as Kaspersky Password Manager.

By Tamara Rajić, Director of Business Strategy EMEA at Infobip

World Innovation and Creativity Day fell on the 21st of April, reminding us of the boundless potential inherent in human ingenuity and technological advancement. Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of this celebration, reshaping the landscape of business operations and customer engagement.

The combination of advanced data analytics with cloud computing has propelled AI into the spotlight, making its integration more accessible across industries.

Unlocking AI’s potential – why companies can’t afford to miss out

What is remarkable is how AI adoption is growing its accessibility to the public. Platforms such as OpenAI, ChatGPT, and Dall-E have opened the doors to AI technologies, empowering individuals, and businesses alike to effortlessly explore and incorporate AI-driven solutions into their plans. This has sparked a culture of innovation and empowerment, enabling businesses to harness AI to expand their performance and efficiency.

Take AI-driven communication tools, like chatbots and virtual assistants for example. They are changing customer service experiences by delivering personalised, efficient, and proactive interactions. These solutions not only streamline support processes but also forge deeper connections with customers, fostering satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, business growth. Furthermore, AI empowers businesses to gather actionable insights from customer data, facilitating informed decision-making and targeted strategies.

Data quality plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of AI. Without complete and consistent data, implementing AI-powered technologies can lead to inaccurate results and hinder business decision-making. This is why it is important for businesses to invest in data quality assurance processes. And by analysing customer feedback across various channels, AI offers a deeper understanding of preferences and needs, enabling businesses to tailor their offerings and communication strategies accordingly. This level of personalisation increases the customer experience, promoting long-lasting relationships and brand loyalty.

Chatbots and virtual assistants are some of the most widely used AI-powered communication solutions out there, spanning across multiple industries and business types. They provide instant responses to inquiries, assist with product recommendations, and help with tasks like order tracking and appointment scheduling.

Navigating challenges in AI implementation

AI-driven automation streamlines processes, reduces manual workloads, and enhances operational efficiency, driving competitiveness and revenue growth. By leveraging AI-powered insights, businesses can identify high-value opportunities, estimate market trends, and improve resource allocation, thereby increasing ROI and market share.

This innovation is expected to catalyse significant transformations in traditional sectors such as banking and retail, leading to more personalised experiences and innovative consumer approaches. By understanding individual preferences, behaviours, and purchasing patterns, these sectors can offer tailored product recommendations, targeted promotions, and customised services.

With this being said, it is important to underline the critical function AI serves in customer support. By reducing wait times through AI-powered chatbots and providing assistance through the customer’s preferred communication channel, businesses can ensure a significant uptake in customer satisfaction.

Integrating AI into existing tools and systems does not come without its challenges. Businesses can encounter compatibility issues, data silos, and a shortage of skilled professionals with expertise in AI and machine learning within their talent pool. Demonstrating ROI in the early stages of AI technology adoption can also be challenging due to these obstacles. It is therefore important to identify high-potential use cases and the most impactful areas where AI can drive business growth and positive customer satisfaction and start from there.

Overcoming obstacles – to maximise AI’s potential

With its increasing accessibility and transformative potential, AI is fostering innovation, and amplifying creativity. By taking into consideration AI-driven insights and solutions, businesses can personalise interactions, streamline operations, and anticipate customer needs. However, this journey is not without trial and error. It demands careful navigation of data quality and integration complexities. Nonetheless, businesses should embrace AI as a catalyst for creativity and innovation, to unlock new possibilities, enriching the human experience and propelling organisations towards a future where the boundaries between humanity and technology seize to exist.

Kaduna State Government, in partnership with Google and Data Science Nigeria (DSN), introduced the inaugural “AI for Beginners in Hausa,” marking the first instance of artificial intelligence (AI) training in a local language.

In Northern Nigeria, various challenges can impact access to tech education and career opportunities. These include diverse socio-cultural dynamics, infrastructural limitations, and language barriers. Photo: @Gov Uba Sani X handle

Sen. Uba Sani, Kaduna State governor, expressed profound gratitude to the partners for building support for women to use technology in harnessing the socio- economic development of the state and the country as a whole.

Represented by Dr Hadiza Balarabe, deputy governor, at the launch of Arewa Ladies for Tech and the mural unveiling of the AI for Beginners Learning Video series, Sani, said AI is not just the future; it’s the present.

According to him, Google pledged a $1.5 million grant to empower 20,000 Nigerian women and youths from underserved communities with essential 21st-century skills. This includes a plan to train 5,000 women and girls in areas such as data science and artificial intelligence through the Arewa Tech4Ladies initiative.

Mr. Olumide Balogun, director of Google in West Africa, said in his welcome address that Google’s mission was to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Balogun said that this initiative was a commitment to enhance the representation and inclusion of women in the tech sector.

Dr Bayo Adekanmbi, chief executive officer of DNS, explained that by making AI education accessible in Hausa, the partnership was creating opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

Presenting a paper tagged, “AI in Education”, Dr Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said a lot had been missed because AI was not being taught in the local language.

The DG was represented by Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, head of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department of NITDA.