In the time it takes you to read this entry, a hacker tried to gain access to your computer. That is the result of a fascinating new study by Michel Cukier at the University of Maryland. In the study, which was directed at assessing the security risks presented by weak passwords, researchers left four Linux computers online continuously for nearly a month. What they found is shocking, but not surprising. On average, the computers were attacked every 39 seconds. As you may guess, they found weak passwords really do make it easier to gain access to computers. While this may seem like common sense, I believe every organization can attest to the fact that its users frequently adopt passwords that are simply too easy to guess. The problem is that the average user cannot remember a complex password without writing it down, undermining the very security afforded by the complex password. There are, of course, ways of creating passwords that are both complex and easy to remember (e.g., splicing two common words together “cat” and “dog” becomes “cdaotg”). The challenge is getting users to adopt them. Unfortunately, unless and until stronger passwords are widely used, the clock will be ticking. Related content opinion Finding Common Threads in Privacy and Information Security Laws. By Michael Overly Apr 26, 2013 3 mins Compliance opinion Ensure Your Data is Securely Deleted By Michael Overly Mar 11, 2013 2 mins Cloud Security opinion CIA in the Cloud By Michael Overly Dec 18, 2012 2 mins Cloud Security opinion Overreacting to Information Security By Michael Overly Dec 10, 2012 2 mins Privacy Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe