It’s World Password Day today, the first Thursday of May.
World Password Day is a day set aside in the IT industry, and other associated sectors, to consider best practices, such as promoting strong password habits and better cybersecurity practices.
Its aim is to encourage people and businesses to consider and reflect, and perhaps take action, on where, when and how their passwords and security access is being used, and it is widely recognised by cybersecurity companies, technology vendors, and IT organisations.
Apparently the concept originated from a security researcher whose idea inspired Intel Security (formerly McAfee) to formally launch World Password Day in 2013.
Today, on World Password Day 2026, we hear the thoughts of Christy Wyatt, CEO at Absolute Security, who comments:
“On World Password Day, resilience isn’t just about recovery—it’s about readiness. Every password is a frontline defense, and every person plays a role in protecting what matters. As AI changes the threat landscape—making attacks faster, more personalized, and harder to spot—the role of passwords is evolving. A single password is no longer enough on its own. Resilience today means combining strong, unique passwords with multi-factor authentication and modern protections that adapt as quickly as the threats do. These habits aren’t burdens—they’re how we stay a step ahead and keep our digital lives secure, no matter what comes next.”
Nicko van Someren, Chief Technology Officer at Absolute Security, adds:
“World Password Day started out as a day to remind people to change their passwords; these days we should be taking it as a reminder that it’s about time we moved past passwords altogether. We need to deploy technology that authenticates not just the user but the device and the circumstances of that device. If we want security to be an enabler, we also need that technology to repair and restore the condition of a device, no matter where it is. That way our endpoint devices are one of multiple factors for authentication, but we don’t let them be a limiting factor in being productive.”
On World Password Day, security experts urge organisations to adopt stronger authentication practices, reduce reliance on passwords where possible, and prioritise cyber resilience.
