The problems with forcing regular password expiry, UK National Cyber Security Centre

Okay, here’s a breakdown of the UK National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) stance on forced password expiry, based on their blog post, explained in a way that’s easy to grasp:

The Death of the Mandatory Password Change: Why NCSC Says No More!

For years, IT departments have drilled into us the importance of regularly changing our passwords. Every 30, 60, or 90 days, we’d be forced to come up with a new, hopefully complex, string of characters. It felt like good security hygiene, right? Well, according to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a leading authority on cybersecurity, forced password expiry is generally not a good idea anymore.

The Old Thinking:

The logic behind mandatory password changes was that it would limit the window of opportunity for attackers. If a password was compromised, forcing a change would render the stolen password useless. It also hoped to combat users having the same password for multiple websites, so if one was breached, the attacker can’t access everything.

Why It Doesn’t Work Anymore (and Why It Can Actually Hurt):

The NCSC and other security experts have reassessed this approach, and they’ve found some significant problems:

• Password Fatigue and Predictable Changes: When people are forced to change their passwords frequently, they tend to make predictable changes. Instead of creating a brand-new, strong password, they often resort to simple variations of their existing password, like incrementing a number at the end (“Password1”, then “Password2”, then “Password3”). Attackers are well aware of this behavior and often target these common patterns.

• Weaker Passwords Overall: The pressure to come up with a new password every month often leads people to choose weaker, easier-to-remember passwords. The cognitive burden of remembering multiple changing passwords is high.

• Increased Password Reuse: People are forced to reuse old passwords to avoid having to remember brand new ones.

• Helpdesk Overload: Forced password changes generate a ton of support requests. People forget their new passwords, get locked out of their accounts, and flood the helpdesk. This wastes valuable IT resources and can cause frustration for users.

• Focus Away From Real Threats: Forcing password changes can give a false sense of security and distract from more important security measures, like enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The NCSC’s Recommendation: Focus on the Right Security Measures

Instead of mandatory password changes, the NCSC advocates for a more risk-based and modern approach to password security:

1. Promote Strong, Unique Passwords:

   • Password Managers: Encourage the use of password managers. These tools generate and store strong, unique passwords for each website or service, freeing users from having to remember dozens of complex passwords.
   • Password Strength Training: Educate users on how to create strong passwords. This includes using a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoiding easily guessable information like names, birthdays, or common words.
   • Long Passwords: Passwords should be long. The longer the password, the harder it is to crack.

2. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

   • This is the most important thing you can do. MFA adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. It requires users to provide a second form of verification, such as a code sent to their phone or a fingerprint scan, before they can access their account. Even if a password is compromised, the attacker still needs the second factor, making it much harder to gain access.

3. Monitor for Compromised Credentials:

   • Organizations should actively monitor for compromised credentials. This can be done by subscribing to breach notification services or using tools that scan the dark web for leaked passwords. If a password is found to be compromised, the user should be immediately notified and required to change it.

4. Invest in Anomaly Detection:

   • Monitor user behavior for unusual activity, such as logging in from a different location or at an odd time. This can help identify potential account compromises even if the attacker has a valid password.

5. Change Passwords Reactively (When Necessary):

   • Only force a password change if there’s a specific reason to believe a password has been compromised. For example:
     • A breach at a website where the user has an account.
     • Suspicious activity on the user’s account.
     • Detection of malware on the user’s device.

In Simple Terms:

Think of it like this: Instead of constantly changing the locks on your house, you should focus on:

• Having a really strong, hard-to-pick lock (a good password).
• Having an alarm system (MFA).
• Keeping an eye out for burglars (monitoring for compromised credentials and suspicious activity).

The Bottom Line:

Forced password expiry is an outdated security practice that often does more harm than good. By focusing on strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and proactive monitoring, organizations can significantly improve their security posture without burdening users with the constant hassle of changing passwords. The NCSC’s recommendation reflects a shift towards a more practical and effective approach to password security in the modern digital landscape.

The problems with forcing regular password expiry

The AI has delivered the news.

The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:

At 2025-03-13 11:50, ‘The problems with forcing regular password expiry’ was published according to UK National Cyber Security Centre. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner.

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