My password is 1-2-3-4

The National Cyber Security Centre’s London HQ is a futuristic jumble of glass and steel and the workplace of some of the nation’s cleverest wonks.

Unfathomably intelligent and with IQs north of 400 these pointy-heads are charged with keeping the nation safe and guarding us from the ever-present threat of a cyber-attack.

We never really know what goes on in there suffice it to say that an average day’s work would give most of us a serious headache.

But these guys take it all in their stride.

Keeping one step ahead of the world’s most fiendishly cunning rascals, all hell-bent on mischief of some sort or another, is all part of a day’s work to them.

So, it’s always fascinating when an opportunity pops up which allows us to gain a tiny insight into how seriously they take their own security.

At a recent event diplomats and journalists had gathered there to listen to a speech by the Foreign Secretary.

Unsurprisingly in such a large building, some soon got lost on their way to the presentation and were relieved to discover that “1234” was the passcode to many of the internal doors.

The NCSC refused to comment.

Amusing as this story might be, it highlights how easy it is to slip in to “it’ll never happen to me” mode. Because somewhere along the line it nearly always does.

A timely reminder to check our own passwords (*)

Have a great week.

Alec

(*) The NCSC has a list of 100,000 passwords they say should be avoided and “changed immediately” if they are still in use. Number 15 on the list just happens to be 1234.