Fortify Your Digital Fortress: The Power of Strong Passwords

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May 21, 2024

In the vast expanse of the digital world, our passwords are the gatekeepers standing between our sensitive information and the prying eyes of cybercriminals. Yet, as we navigate through the virtual landscape, it's alarmingly easy to overlook the importance of fortifying our passwords on a regular basis.

The Vulnerability of Weak Passwords

Weak passwords, akin to flimsy locks on a treasure chest, invite trouble with open arms. Here's a stark reality: a mere 7-character password can be cracked in a mind-bogglingly short span of 2 seconds. Add a few symbols, and you extend that to a meager 4 seconds. In the blink of an eye, your fortress is breached, leaving your personal data exposed to malicious intent.

Reusing passwords across multiple accounts is akin to employing the same key for every door in your house. Once a cybercriminal unlocks one door, they have access to the entire residence of your digital identity. It's a convenience we cannot afford.

The Armor of Strong Passwords

Imagine your password as a robust fortress, impervious to the relentless onslaught of cyber threats. Strengthening your digital defenses begins with the adoption of strong passwords. Here's where the numbers tell a compelling tale: a 12-character password transforms the game entirely, turning the tables on potential hackers. With such a fortress in place, it would take a staggering 53 years to crack the code.

Recommendations for Reinforcement

1. Passphrases: Gone are the days of cryptic combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. Embrace the simplicity and strength of passphrases – strings of words that are easy to remember but hard to crack

Some example passphrases to get you thinking:

MayTheForceBeWithYou - is a passphrase, but also a movie quote, not ideal

MayThe4thBw1thY0u - is stronger but this is complicated and difficult to remember

Isn't Baby Yoda the cutest green alien in the galaxy? - this passphrase is lengthy yet robust and much easier to remember. Incorporating random words also enhances security

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Elevate your security measures with the addition of MFA. By requiring multiple forms of verification, such as a password combined with a fingerprint or a one-time code, you create an additional layer of defense against unauthorised access.

3. Password Managers: Bid farewell to the chaos of remembering numerous passwords for various accounts. Harness the power of password managers to securely store and generate complex passwords, granting you peace of mind without sacrificing convenience.

Congratulations to Bishop George Kolodziej, the new Bishop of Bunbury

March 24, 2025

Catholic Development Fund (CDF) congratulates Bishop George Kolodziej SDS on his ordination and installation as the fifth Bishop of Bunbury. The ceremony took place on March 19, 2025, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, at St Patrick's Cathedral in Bunbury. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), presided over the ceremony as principal consecrator, and was joined by more than 19 bishops from across Australia, including CDF’s Board Member Most Rev. Anthony J. Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. Tim O’Leary, CDF Deputy Chair of the Board, and Matthew Cassin, CDF Chief Executive Officer, were also in attendance amongst distinguished guests. Apostolic Nuncio Charles Balvo presented the Papal Bull during the ceremony, which brought together the entire Bunbury Catholic community—clergy, seminarians, acolytes, altar servers, musicians, choir members, Salvatorian priests from across Australia, and representatives from Catholic Education Western Australia Ltd and Catholic Religious Australia. In his poignant homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted the significance of Bishop George's middle name being Joseph, noting, "Perhaps today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, we might look to him as a model of this tender and compassionate presence to others, a model especially, though not only, for our soon-to-be Bishop George."

Transforming STEAM at St Columba's College's new Foxford Innovation Centre

By Michelle Ross-FitzGerald • March 24, 2025

Last month, St Columba’s College celebrated the blessing and official opening of its brand new Foxford Innovation Centre. The state-of-the-art facility is the result of a 20-year vision, designed to transform educational opportunities for students through a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. Supported by a $13 million loan from CDF, the Centre blends modern innovation with the heritage architecture of the College campus; it features cutting-edge facilities, including food technology kitchens, maker spaces, arts and science classrooms, specialist labs, a canteen, and a competition-grade sports court. The Centre is named after the Foxford Woollen Mills in Ireland, honouring the legacy of Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, a Sister of Charity who founded the mills in 1892. Her vision and leadership transformed a struggling community, embodying the values of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration.

Catholic Connect Workshop Bridges Leadership and Hope

March 12, 2025

Catholic Development Fund (CDF), recently hosted its first Catholic Connect Workshop for 2025 exploring ' Leading with Hope in Uncertain Times.' The event, brought together in partnership with Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) , united Catholic organisation leaders to explore the intersection of leadership, formation, and hope. The workshop's theme aligned perfectly with both International Women's Day and the Jubilee Year theme "Pilgrims of Hope," creating a timely opportunity to reflect on cultivating hope within communities and organisations. The heart of the event featured an impressive panel moderated by Josh Lourensz, Executive Director of CSSV. The distinguished speakers included: Micaela Cronin , the Inaugural Federal Commissioner for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, whose career began in social work with organisations like St. Vincent De Paul Society and MacKillop Family Services, Annie Carrett , the Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Melbourne and first female Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, bringing over 35 years of experience within the Catholic Church; and Sr. Joan Healy , a 90-year-old author, activist, and pioneer in family and child support models whose work over five decades continues to influence current practices.

CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.