Emailed Password-Protected Documents: The New, Silent Breach You Didn’t See Coming
World Backup Day on the 31st of March is a timely reminder for businesses to prioritise data security, but one widespread practice remains a critical weak spot: emailing password-protected documents. Despite being a long-trusted security measure, this method is no longer a reliable defence.
Cyberattacks surged by 30% in the second quarter of 2024 compared with Q2 2023—the highest jump in two years (Check Point Research). Yet, professionals across industries continue to share confidential password-protected documents—from Excel spreadsheets and PDF reports to IP—internally and across the supply chain.
With 54% of large organisations identifying supply chain vulnerabilities as the top cybersecurity risk in 2025 (World Economic Forum), proactively securing data at every level—including storage and file-sharing—has never been more urgent.
The Hidden Weakness of Password-Protected Files
Despite offering a sense of security, password-protected files lack built-in defences against brute force attacks. With modern AI-powered tools, hackers can now crack an eight-character complex password in minutes. In fact, a sophisticated brute-force attack using networked computers can break encrypted documents much faster than most users realise.
Even the most secure organisations have been compromised through email breaches, including the U.S. government in 2023 and Microsoft in 2024, with Microsoft’s breach lasting two months.
A Better Approach: Hardware Encryption for True Protection
In a recent blog, Kingston Technology highlights that instead of relying on outdated software-based encryption, businesses and professionals should turn to hardware-encrypted USB drives or external SSDs for true data protection. Kingston IronKey devices offer AES-256 bit encryption with military-grade security, providing a physical barrier against brute force attacks and unauthorised access. Unlike software-based password-protected files, these drives lock down after multiple failed attempts, ensuring sensitive data cannot be compromised.
The Critical Role of Resellers in Cybersecurity
IT resellers are key allies in closing security gaps and helping organisations to eliminate outdated, vulnerable practices. By offering hardware-encrypted solutions like Kingston IronKey, resellers can guide clients toward secure solutions that protect sensitive data from modern cyber threats.
Check out the Kingston Technology website for more information about Kingston IronKey encrypted storage solutions.
Please access the full blog if it might be useful for any article you are planning on the topic of cybersecurity. We would also be happy to provide you with expert insights from Kingston Technology if you are looking to discuss the evolving threat landscape and steps businesses must take to stay ahead of cybercriminals.
