Why Passwords Are (Still) Your Business’s Weakest Link

And what Knox Technology can do to help fix that

Hi, I’m Mike Knox, owner of Knox Technology, your local IT partner here in Southwest Florida. We work with small businesses to make sure their technology is working for them—not against them.

And while we love helping you set up new networks and fix printers that suddenly “decide to stop working,” there’s one problem we keep seeing again and again: bad passwords.

Let’s be honest—most of us have used a not-so-great password at some point. Maybe it was password123, ilovecoffee, or KnoxRocks2020 (flattered if you did). But in today’s cyber threat landscape, weak passwords are a golden ticket for hackers—and your business might be one click away from trouble.

The Not-So-Fun Facts

Cybercriminals aren’t breaking in through high-tech wizardry—they’re often just guessing bad passwords. Nearly 50% of cyberattacks last year involved weak or stolen passwords. Half! That’s like giving the bad guys your office keys and hoping they don’t come in.

That’s why it’s time to rethink how you and your team handle passwords. But don’t worry—we’re not here to judge (unless you’re still using “123456”—then we’ll gently judge).

🔕 Top 5 Worst Passwords on the Dark Web

If you recognize any of these... we need to talk:

1. 123456

2. Password

3. 111111

4. 123123

5. Qwerty

(Side note: If you’re using “password” as your password… let’s upgrade that ASAP.)

🔐 Password Best Practices (That Actually Work)

Here’s how you can turn password problems into password power moves:

1. Use a Password Manager

No more sticky notes under your keyboard. A password manager helps generate and securely store complex, unique passwords for all your accounts. Easy for you, hard for hackers.

2. Set Up Single Sign-On (SSO)

With SSO, your team can access multiple apps with one secure login. Just remember: if you go this route, that one password better be Fort Knox strong (yes, pun intended).

3. Don’t Reuse Passwords

If one account gets compromised, hackers will try the same credentials everywhere. Unique passwords per site = less risk, fewer headaches.

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

This adds an extra layer of security—kind of like locking your front door and then locking the screen door too. Even if someone guesses your password, they’ll need your phone to get in. Much safer.

5. Keep Social Media Clues Out of Your Passwords

Your dog’s name, your birth year, or “GatorFan” might be easy to remember—but they’re also easy to guess. Also, Go Gators! Keep your passwords mysterious (and not pulled from your Fb or Insta profiles).

Let Knox Technology Help You Lock It Down

Running a business is hard enough without worrying about hackers sneaking in through a weak password. That’s where we come in. As a local, small-business-focused IT provider, we help folks right here in SWFL create and manage secure, practical password policies—without making anyone feel like a tech newbie.

Let’s work together to:

• Set up business wide password managers

• Set up 2FA

• Strengthen your cybersecurity 

🗓️ Book Your Free Consultation Today

Let’s have a conversation about how we can help your business stay secure, compliant, and confidently password-strong.

🔐 Because stronger passwords mean safer businesses—and safer businesses make for a better SWFL.