How to Secure Share Password Sharing?

Why Password Sharing Needs a Secure Approach

From a simple act of convenience, password sharing has evolved into a complex web of shared accounts, raising serious security concerns.

People share passwords for various reasons, but it is due to the streaming platforms that password sharing has gained explosive popularity, primarily because of Netflix. People share their login credentials with other people to give them access to their accounts. But this is much more than this. At times, it becomes necessary, but just like any other thing, there are two ways to do it: right and wrong. If done with precaution, your streaming and online accounts can be compromised. So, without any further wait, let’s dive deeper into the topic and understand the reason for password sharing, learn about the risks, and learn how to share passwords securely.

Reasons People Share Their Passwords

People choose to share their passwords for various reasons; to save money on streaming services, give access to such services to their friends and family, and provide access to financial accounts in an emergency.

The reasons for password sharing depend on the situation. They can be:

• In Personal Life: People share passwords in their personal life for varied reasons. One reason is to give them access to accounts in an emergency or to give friends and family members free access to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, etc. People also share Wi-Fi passwords with the guests. Superficially, it may seem harmless, but it is a crocodile in the water, lying in an ambush. A little carelessness can expose your network to threats like malware, which can spread to other devices connected to your Wi-Fi network. So, it’s wise to understand the risks of password sharing.
• At Work: At times, it becomes necessary for employees to share passwords for social media or other company accounts to do their jobs. However, this is only sometimes done securely, which can often expose the company accounts to phishing and other cybercrime-related threats.

An improper password sharing can enable former employees to retain access to company accounts, increasing the risk of sensitive information exposure to account takeover attacks and breaches.

Why Password Security is Crucial?

Password security is a cornerstone of maintaining digital safety in today’s interconnected world. Weak or compromised passwords can lead to significant vulnerabilities, making it easier for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. Here’s why password security is essential:

Protection Against Potential Threats

• Hacking: Cybercriminals use techniques like brute force attacks to crack weak passwords.
• Phishing: Fraudulent emails and websites trick users into revealing their credentials.
• Unauthorised Access: A compromised password can allow attackers to steal sensitive data or misuse accounts.

Real-Life Examples of Breaches

• Major organisations have suffered data breaches due to unsecured passwords.
• For instance, the 2019 Facebook breach exposed millions of accounts because passwords were stored in plaintext without adequate security measures.

Maintaining Digital Privacy

• Strong passwords are the first defense in safeguarding personal and financial information.
• With the growing dependence on online services, from banking to social media, protecting passwords ensures overall digital well-being.

Best Practices for Password Security

• Use complex passwords with a mix of characters, numbers, and symbols.
• Avoid reusing passwords across multiple platforms.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an additional security layer.
• Regularly update passwords to reduce the risk of unauthorised access.

How Passwords are Shared?

Before discussing the risks associated with password sharing, let’s take a look at the ways through which people share their passwords. Password sharing may happen:

• Through social media, direct messages
• Through emails
• Through text messages via SMS or any other messaging apps
• Through Excel spreadsheets or Word documents
• By writing them down on paper and handing them over

Since we have discussed the ways to do password sharing, let’s see the risks it poses.

Common Mistakes in Password Sharing

Password sharing often leads to vulnerabilities that compromise personal and organisational security. Here are common mistakes to avoid:

1. Using Weak or Predictable Passwords
• Passwords like "123456" or "password" are easy to guess, putting your accounts at risk. Always ask yourself, how secure is my password?
2. Sharing Passwords Over Unsecure Channels
• Sending passwords via email or text can expose them to hackers or unauthorised individuals. Use encrypted communication methods for sharing.
3. Reusing Passwords Across Multiple Platforms
• Repeating the same password for different accounts increases the risk of multiple breaches if one account is compromised.
4. Forgetting to Update Shared Passwords Regularly
• Neglecting to update shared passwords can lead to unauthorised access, especially when team members leave, or accounts are accessed from shared devices.

Risks of Password Sharing

If not done carefully and securely, password sharing exposes financial and personal data to cybercriminals, who can use it maliciously. Here are some risks of password sharing.

• Hacking and Phishing: Hacking and phishing are the most common cyber security scams scammers use to target people. So, it is imperative to take absolute precautions while sharing your password. Now you must wonder, How can this happen when I use anti-virus software? The simple answer is that it can.
  For example, you have a highly protected computer system, and it is practically impossible to breach your system directly. However, it’s only you. The person you share your password with might not be as cautious as you are, and it could be possible that their computer is already compromised. If such is the case, then regardless of the anti-virus, your computer can be indirectly hacked from the person’s account with whom you have shared the password.
  
• Social Engineering Scams: Social engineering psychologically manipulates the victims to reveal sensitive information to use for malicious purposes. One way to do this is to create urgency. For example, they can pretend to be your family member by hacking their system and then ask for the login credentials, saying they have forgotten them. In such a scenario, you may give it without a second thought, which can have severe consequences in the future.
• Breaching of Privacy: When you share a password with someone, chances are that they have access to all your information, like documents, private photos, etc., especially if the account is associated with Google. This way, you risk a privacy breach and the chances of being blackmailed.
• Ownership Loss: When you share a password, you also provide access to every account with the same password. So, anyone with malicious intent can reset your password to take control of your digital presence.

The next step after understanding the risks of password sharing is knowing how to share the password securely.

Best Practices for Secure Password Sharing

There are some ways through which you can share passwords while avoiding the risk of phishing or online scamming. These are:

• Password Manager: The password manager is the best way to share passwords securely. Through it, users can generate, store, and share passwords without compromising privacy and security. Sharing passwords varies depending on the password manager. Some offer one-time sharing where account credentials are available for a set time. When the time is over, the receiver won’t be able to use it to log in to the account. The second type of password manager is where the credentials are available without any time limit. If the password changes, the record is updated, and the person you have shared the record with has access to it.
• Cloud Storage: Cloud Storage encrypts the data before uploading it, so it is only visible to people with access to the cloud file.
• Verbal Communication: Another best way to secure password sharing is to give it in person or through a phone call.

In today’s world, password sharing has become a dominant trend. Still, it is crucial to do it securely so that no fraudster can illegally exploit your confidential and sensitive data.

Conclusion

Password security is non-negotiable in this time of frequent internet usage. Using strong, unique passwords, avoiding reuse, and implementing two-factor authentication are vital practices. Equally important is learning how to share a password securely when necessary. Always prioritise secure methods for sharing and managing passwords to protect sensitive information and maintain digital privacy

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is secure password sharing?

Secure password sharing involves using encrypted tools or password management applications to share credentials safely, minimising risks of unauthorised access. Always opt for tools designed for password security.

2. What is a sharing password?

Sharing passwords occurs when account credentials are shared between individuals. While convenient, improper password sharing compromises password security increases the likelihood of breaches.

3. How to prevent password sharing?

Implement two-factor authentication, monitor user activities, and use unique login credentials for each individual to prevent password sharing. These measures strengthen password security.

4. How do I find password-protected sharing?

In most systems, password-protected sharing requires a user to input credentials to access shared resources. You can enable or configure this in your device’s security or network settings.

5. What is a protected password?

A protected password is stored securely and cannot be easily accessed or hacked. Using strong encryption and secure password management tools ensures how secure is my password and protects sensitive accounts.