Cybersecurity Awareness 2025: Go Beyond Passwords with MFA

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—an ideal moment to rethink how you protect your digital life. If your accounts still rely on just a password, it’s time to level up.

Why passwords fall short: phishing, data breaches, and credential leaks have made password-only logins easy targets—especially when the same or similar passwords are reused across multiple accounts.

The fix is multi-factor authentication (MFA). Adding a second proof of identity can block attackers even if they’ve stolen your password.

Not all MFA is equal. SMS codes are better than nothing, but whenever possible choose an authenticator app—or, better yet, a hardware security key—for stronger, phishing-resistant protection.

For businesses of every size, strong MFA is non-negotiable. Robust authentication safeguards systems, protects customer trust, shields intellectual property, and preserves brand reputation.

What’s next? Passwordless authentication is gaining ground. Passkeys and other passwordless methods offer simpler, stronger sign-ins without the hassle of passwords.

Quick actions you can take now:

• Turn on MFA on every account that supports it
• Prefer authenticator apps or hardware security keys over SMS
• Encourage your teams and colleagues to adopt MFA
• Learn about passkeys and other passwordless options

Want more? Watch the video with ESET Chief Security Evangelist Tony Anscombe to dive deeper, and stay tuned for more Cybersecurity Awareness Month content—celebrated globally across the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. You can also explore ESET’s cybersecurity awareness training and connect with us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Source: WeLiveSecurity