Last Updated on May 14, 2023 by Rashid Hassan
Passwords are the most common way to confirm that we are the people speaking for us on various websites, on social networks, in emails, and even on the computer itself. Mobile passwords also give us access to phones, banking applications, work computers and, since we are on networks, also access to Switches and Routers. For many online systems, a password is the only thing that prevents a hacker from stealing our personal data. Our article today is about how cybercriminals can crack passwords and what you can do to protect them.
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Contents
Why It’s So Easy For Hackers To Hack
Although it may not seem that difficult to create a password, even large and powerful companies such as eBay, LinkedIn and Facebook have suffered from this problem, since many of their users have had their passwords compromised.
First, and most importantly, we often use the same password in different places. More than 60% of the population uses the same password on different sites. And according to a study published by ExpressVPN, “123456” remains the most used password globally. This makes us incredibly vulnerable to hackers.
The standard rule is to change passwords every 90 days. However, in recent years, this method has been found to be ineffective. When people are forced to change their passwords on a regular basis, it takes less mental effort to do so. This is another way hackers can take advantage of people’s lack of effort and willingness to change or diversify their passwords.
How long does it take for hackers to figure out your password?
If your password is as simple as “password” or “abcdefg”, it will take a hacker about 0.19 milliseconds to guess it (according to BetterBuys). Surprised? On the other hand, a password like 123456789 can be guessed 431 times in the blink of an eye. Even the most complex passwords are cracked fairly quickly. And while it used to take hackers up to 3 years to password cracker, now they can do it in a couple of months.
Hackers check the simplest and most common passwords first, and then move on to passwords with fewer characters. While a seven-character password can be cracked in 0.19 milliseconds, a 12-character password can take up to two centuries to crack. The longer the passwords, the longer it will take hackers to get the right combination.
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How Cybercriminals Crack Passwords
However, how do hackers do their dirty work? First of all, it is important to understand that it is your job. Most modern and successful hackers do it every day, putting all their knowledge and effort into it. Here are the most common ways hackers can access your account using your login details:
- Keylogger attacks: Used to record and trace every keystroke of a target device
- Brute force attacks: In a brute force attack, hackers use special software that continually tries to guess different password combinations.
- Dictionary attacks: A dictionary attack works like this: every word in the dictionary is systematically inserted as a password. Dictionary attacks can be very successful because people tend to choose short, common passwords.
- Phishing attacks: These are carried out by hackers who use fake emails or websites to steal your login details. Often these are emails posing as emails from perfectly legitimate companies asking you to download a file or click a button or link.
How to Protect Yourself from Hackers
Staying safe online is something that all Internet users should strive to achieve. The Internet is as useful as it is dangerous, and hackers are constantly looking for ways to compromise user accounts. Below are several steps you should take to protect yourself from a hacker.
- Keylogger attacks: Use a firewall to prevent keyloggers from passing information to third parties. You can also install a password manager that automatically fills in password fields (by entering the required password), so keyloggers can’t track your keystrokes and get your login details.
- Brute force attacks: You can implement an account lockout policy so that after multiple failed login attempts, the account will be locked until the administrator unlocks it. You can also implement progressive delays that lock out user accounts for a set amount of time after a failed authentication attempt. You can also use systems such as reCAPTCHA.
- Dictionary attacks: Choose a password of at least 8 characters. Avoid any dictionary words or variations of common and predictable words in it.
- Phishing attacks: Be wary of emails that come from unknown senders, are not personalized, ask you to verify personal or financial information, or demand immediate action with threatening information.
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Create a Secure Password
Cybercriminals have become experts in password identification. Even high-level executives have predictable and guessable passwords. This can have a serious impact on the business. When creating a password, there are some tips that can go a long way in keeping your accounts safe and secure from hackers.
- Ideally, the password should be at least 14 characters. Eight characters is the minimum you can use. Use different characters, numbers and letters that have nothing to do with you or your hobbies.
To keep your passwords secure, it’s important to generate quality passwords and use security tools when creating new accounts. Although many studies recommend changing your password every 90 days, the truth is that the latest recommendations suggest changing your password when necessary, since changing it too frequently can do more harm than good.
Lastly, install antivirus software along with a VPN to protect yourself online. Install your antivirus on all your devices to keep an eye on suspicious activity and use a quality VPN when browsing the Internet.