Change Your Password Day

Change Your Password Day is an American holiday designed to remind people of the importance of changing passwords. Celebrated on February 1st, this day highlights the necessity of protecting oneself from hacking and data leakage. With many aspects of our lives now online, including social media, internet banking, and e-commerce, strong passwords are essential for security.

History

The history of Change Your Password Day is associated with Matt Buchanan. After having his accounts hacked twice, he decided to establish a holiday to draw attention to the importance of setting strong passwords.

Passwords should be given special attention. Create a unique, complex password for each account. The use of easy or popular passwords greatly increases the risk of being hacked, as they are easier for hackers to guess. Use a combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and various symbols (such as dashes and exclamation marks). Avoid storing passwords on a computer or smartphone; instead, write them down in a notebook and keep them on paper.

Interesting facts

• According to statistics, about 60% of people use the same or very similar passwords because they do not pay enough attention to creating them.
• Only 33% of users change their passwords at least once a year.
• According to researchers, most cyberattacks are committed in China, affecting more than 300 million people annually.

How to celebrate

Check your passwords on Change Your Password Day. If many of them have not been changed for several months, come up with new ones. Get a separate notebook to record all your passwords and delete the list from your computer or phone. This way, if your devices are hacked, hackers will not gain access to all your accounts.

Share information about the holiday on social networks. Ask other users how often they change their passwords.

When is Change Your Password Day in 2025?

Change Your Password Day is observed on February 1 each year.

Observations