Introduction

For decades, we've been told the same rules about password security: change them often, use weird characters, and memorize them all. But the cybersecurity landscape has shifted dramatically. The rules that worked in 2010 are actually dangerous in 2026.

Modern attackers don't just guess passwords; they buy billions of them on the dark web or use sophisticated AI tools to crack patterns. In this post, we'll debunk the three most persistent myths that are likely hurting your security posture more than helping it.

Myth 1: You Must Change Your Password Every 90 Days

The Reality: Frequent mandatory password changes are actually counterproductive. When forced to change a password regularly, human nature takes over. Users inevitably choose predictable patterns, known as "transformations".

For example, if your password is Tr0ub4dor&3, your next one will likely be Tr0ub4dor&4. Hackers know this. They literally have scripts that test these common transformations.

What Should You Do Instead?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) completely revamped their guidelines in SP 800-63B. They now recommend:

• Don't expire passwords arbitrarily.
• Only change passwords if there is evidence of a compromise (e.g., a data breach).
• Focus on length and complexity rather than frequency.

Myth 2: "I Have Nothing to Hide"

The Reality: This is the most dangerous mindset in cybersecurity. You might think your email or social media accounts aren't valuable, but to a hacker, they are gold mines.

Attackers don't just want your secrets; they want your identity and your resources.

• Botnets: Your computer can be enslaved to attack others or mine cryptocurrency.
• Pivot Points: If they crack your email, they can reset the password for every other account you own (banking, shopping, government IDs).
• Social Engineering: They can use your accounts to scam your friends and family, who trust messages coming from you.

Myth 3: Biometrics (FaceID/TouchID) Replace Passwords

The Reality: Biometrics are fantastic for convenience, but in most current implementations, they are just a shortcut, not a replacement.

When you use FaceID to log into your banking app, you are usually just unlocking a cryptic key stored on your device that then sends the password or token to the server. If the underlying password for that account is "123456", a hacker can still log in remotely from Russia or China using that weak password, bypassing your FaceID entirely.

The Exceptions: Passkeys

The industry is moving toward Passkeys (FIDO2 credentials), which actually replace passwords with cryptographic key pairs. In this model, your biometrics unlock the private key on your device, and the public key lives on the server. There is no password to phish or guess!