Cybersecurity: Device Security - Passwords, Passphrases, Passkeys, Hardware Keys & Password Managers

⁈  The options for device security can be confusing.  Here’s a breakdown and brief explanations of Passkeys, Passphrases, Passwords and Hardware Keys, along with a short discussion of Password Managers, their pros/cons, and their importance in securing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, especially regarding default credentials.

📌 Here is a table with information about passwords, passphrases, passkeys and hardware keys including definitions, the formats used and the use cases for each:

📌 More information about passwords, including the pros cons, security aspects and examples:

📌 More information about passphrases, including the pros cons, security aspects and examples:

📌 More information about hardware keys, including the pros cons, security aspects and examples vendors:

📌 Password managers are useful in keeping passwords organized. Here are some of the pros cons, security aspects and vendors/providers.

📌  In summary, Passkeys, passphrases, and passwords each offer distinct approaches to authentication, with varying strengths and weaknesses. Passwords are simple and familiar but often weak, reused, and vulnerable to attacks. Passphrases, being longer, are more secure and easier to remember when based on phrases, yet can still be susceptible to phishing and inconvenient to type. Passkeys provide strong cryptographic protection and resist phishing but require device support and backup measures. 

📌 Password managers help users generate, store, and autofill strong, unique credentials, reducing the burden of memorization but introducing a single point of failure if not properly secured. 

📌 In the context of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, security is especially critical because these devices frequently ship with default credentials that are publicly known and easily exploited by attackers. 

📌 Best practices include immediately changing default passwords, using strong authentication, keeping firmware updated, and segmenting IoT devices on separate networks to minimize risk and protect broader home or enterprise systems.

📌 IoT Takeaway: Always change default credentials, keep firmware updated, and use strong, managed authentication to protect your devices and network.

Dr. Frank Kardasz 

April 2025

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