How do passwords relate to cybersecurity?

Password leaks can be a serious cyber threat because they can give hackers access to private data that they can use in a variety of cyberattacks. Attackers can use passwords that have been leaked or stolen to gain unauthorised access to user accounts, steal personal or financial data, or spread malware and ransomware.

Here are some common cyber threats that can result from a password leak:

• Account takeover

Leaked passwords can be used by cybercriminals to log into user accounts and perform other malicious tasks. They are able to make fraudulent purchases, send contacts, phishing emails, steal personal information, and even lock users out of their accounts.

• Data breaches

Data breaches caused by password leaks may reveal private information like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and medical records. The use of this data for financial fraud, identity theft, or other illegal activities is possible.

• Malware attacks

Cybercriminals can use leaked passwords to distribute malware or ransomware through phishing emails or other social engineering techniques. These malicious applications can encrypt files, steal sensitive data, and even take over the device once they have been installed.

• Credential stuffing 

Passwords that have been compromised may be used by attackers to try to log into multiple accounts using the same username and password combination, a practice known as credential stuffing. Attackers may be able to access other accounts if the user has used the same password on several of them.

• Brute force attacks

By testing every possible character combination until the correct one is found, attackers use automated tools to guess passwords. Brute force attacks can be more effective against weak passwords because they are simple to guess.

• Credential stuffing

Attackers use username and password combinations leaked from other data breaches to try to gain access to other accounts. Weak passwords are easy targets for credential stuffing attacks.

• Phishing

Phishing is when a hacker disguised as a trusted party sends a fraudulent email hoping that you will voluntarily provide personal information. They lead you to a fake “password reset” screen from time to time. Otherwise, the link will install malicious code on your device. 

• Password spraying

Attackers use common passwords to try and gain access to accounts, such as “password” or “123456,” are commonly used. Therefore these weak passwords are vulnerable to password spraying attacks.

• Keylogging

The keylogger is malicious software designed to track every keystroke and report it to hackers. Attackers use software or hardware to record keystrokes and steal login credentials. 

• Man-in-the-middle attacks

Man-in-the-middle (MitM) is an attack when a hacker or compromised system sits between two non-breached people or systems and decrypts information passed to each other, such as passwords.  If Alice and Bob pass notes in class, but Jeremy needs to pass those notes, Jeremy has the opportunity to be an intermediary. Similarly,  Equifax removed the app from the App Store and Google Play Store in 2017 because it shared sensitive data through insecure channels hackers may have used to steal customer data. 

In general, weak passwords make it simpler for cybercriminals to access private data and systems without authorization, resulting in serious security breaches and potentially disastrous outcomes. Using strong passwords that combine upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters will significantly lower your risk of being the victim of a cyberattack.

How can password attacks be prevented?

It’s crucial to adhere to good password hygiene practices, such as creating strong and unique passwords, changing them frequently, and enabling two-factor authentication, to prevent cyber threats brought on by password leaks. In order to protect your password and data, consider the following tips: