A strong password policy is the foundation of cybersecurity, protecting systems from unauthorized access and breaches. It defines rules for password complexity, expiration, and management to ensure robust defense against attacks.
You Should Know: Key Elements of a Password Policy
1. Password Complexity Requirements
- Minimum Length: At least 12 characters.
- Character Types: Combine uppercase (A-Z), lowercase (a-z), numbers (0-9), and symbols (!@$%).
- Avoid Common Words: Prevent dictionary-based attacks by avoiding easily guessable passwords.
Example Command (Linux – Enforcing Password Complexity):
sudo vi /etc/pam.d/common-password Add this line to enforce complexity: password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 minlen=12 difok=3 ucredit=-1 lcredit=-1 dcredit=-1 ocredit=-1
2. Password Expiration & Rotation
- Maximum Password Age: 90 days (adjust based on security needs).
- Password History: Prevent reuse of last 5 passwords.
Windows Command (Set Password Policy via GPO):
Enforce password history net accounts /uniquepw:5 Set maximum password age net accounts /maxpwage:90
3. Account Lockout Policies
- Failed Attempts: Lock account after 5 failed logins.
- Lockout Duration: 30 minutes (or require admin unlock).
Linux Command (Configure Account Lockout):
sudo vi /etc/pam.d/common-auth Add this line to enable lockout after 5 failed attempts: auth required pam_tally2.so deny=5 unlock_time=1800
4. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Enforce MFA for critical systems (SSH, VPN, Admin Panels).
Linux (SSH + Google Authenticator):
sudo apt install libpam-google-authenticator google-authenticator Edit /etc/pam.d/sshd: auth required pam_google_authenticator.so
5. Secure Password Storage (Hashing)
- Use bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 instead of weak hashes like MD5.
Example (Linux – Check Password Hashing Method):
sudo grep ENCRYPT_METHOD /etc/login.defs Ensure it's set to SHA512 or better
What Undercode Say
A strong password policy is critical in preventing brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, and unauthorized access. Organizations must enforce:
– Regular password audits (chage -l username in Linux).
– Phishing-resistant training for employees.
– Automated password managers (KeePass, Bitwarden).
– Session timeout controls (TMOUT=300 in Linux).
Additional Security Commands:
Check password strength (Linux): sudo cracklib-check < /etc/shadow Force password change on next login: sudo chage -d 0 username Disable empty passwords (Linux): sudo sed -i 's/nullok//g' /etc/pam.d/common-auth
Expected Output:
- Reduced brute-force attack success.
- Compliance with NIST, ISO 27001, CIS benchmarks.
- Stronger authentication mechanisms across systems.
Prediction: As AI-powered cracking tools evolve, password policies will shift toward passphrases + MFA dominance, reducing reliance on traditional passwords.
(End of Cybersecurity )
References:
Reported By: Alexrweyemamu Password – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
