Overheard my neighbor bragging about his 'unhackable' smart lock at a BBQ

So I'm at a cookout last Saturday and this guy starts going on about how his new smart lock is impossible to break because he uses a 12 character password. I asked him if he had two factor auth turned on and he gave me this blank stare. Then he said he doesn't need it because his password has special characters. I didn't want to be rude but I had to explain that his password sharing habit with his kids and their friends basically makes all that moot. Its like locking your front door but handing out copies of the key to everyone in the neighborhood. Has anyone else run into people who think a long password is a magic shield against everything?

3 comments

3 Comments

valc911mo ago

Honestly that's a good point - a long password means nothing if you're handing it out like candy at Halloween. Tbh the people who brag about their "unhackable" stuff usually have the weakest security habits.

corap211mo ago

Used to think a strong password was all you needed, but seeing how fast people share them changed my mind. One buddy had a 14 character password and still got locked out because his roommate gave the code to a stranger. Now I focus more on who has access than the password itself.

harper9141mo ago

People treat one strong habit like a shield while ignoring simpler holes everywhere else.