Did
you
know
that
the
very
first
password
attack
happened
in
1962?
At
that
time,
MIT’s
CTSS
(Compatible
Time-Sharing
System)
was
the
first
to
utilize
passwords
for
granting
individual
access.
Allen
Scherr,
a
Ph.D.
researcher,
wanted
to
use
the
CTSS
beyond
his
allocated
weekly
hours.
In
order
to
extend
his
usage
time,
he
decided
to
borrow
passwords
from
other
people.
Scherr
managed
to
obtain
all
the
passwords
stored
in
the
CTSS
system
by
submitting
a
request
to
print
the
password
files
using
a
punched
card.
Nowadays,
password
attacks
have
become
one
of
the
most
significant
concerns
for
both
companies
and
civilians.
The
Verizon
Data
Breach
Investigations
Report
has
stated
that
more
than
80
percent
of
web
application
breaches
were
due
to
password-related
issues.
With
the
average
person
juggling
around
100
passwords,
it
is
no
wonder
that
individuals
often
resort
to
reusing
the
same
passwords
for
multiple
accounts
or
creating
simple
passwords
that
include
easily
remembered
personal
details.
This
situation
presents
a
veritable
playground
for
hackers
as
passwords
are
commonly
the
sole
obstacle
preventing
unauthorized
access
to
confidential
data
or
accounts.
Since
password
attacks
are
a
persistent
problem,
below
is
a
list
of
the
most
prevalent
types
of
attacks
you
may
encounter
and
how
to
guard
against
them.
Password
attack
types
1.
Simple
brute-force
attack
A
simple
brute-force
attack
is
a
method
employed
by
attackers
to
crack
passwords
by
systematically
trying
every
possible
combination
of
characters.
This
attack
can
be
laborious
and
resource-intensive,
as
it
involves
going
through
all
possible
character
permutations
until
the
correct
password
is
identified.
2.
Password
spraying
A
password
spraying
attack
is
a
technique
attackers
use
to
gain
unauthorized
access
to
multiple
accounts
by
attempting
a
limited
number
of
commonly
used
passwords
across
a
broad
range
of
usernames.
Unlike
a
brute-force
attack,
which
targets
a
single
account
with
numerous
password
combinations,
password
spraying
tries
popular
passwords
across
many
accounts,
reducing
the
likelihood
of
triggering
account
lockouts.
3.
Keylogger
attack
This
type
of
attack
can
be
executed
either
by
installing
malicious
software
on
the
user’s
device
or
by
using
a
physical
keylogging
device
connected
to
the
computer.
As
the
user
types
in
their
username
and
password,
the
keylogger
secretly
captures
the
keystroke
data,
which
the
attacker
can
later
retrieve
and
exploit
to
gain
unauthorized
access
to
the
victim’s
accounts.
4.
Credential
stuffing
A
credential
stuffing
attack
is
a
technique
in
which
attackers
exploit
previously
leaked
or
stolen
login
credentials
to
attempt
unauthorized
access
to
various
accounts.
This
method
relies
on
the
assumption
that
users
often
reuse
the
same
usernames
and
passwords
across
multiple
platforms.
By
utilizing
automated
scripts
or
bots,
attackers
systematically
input
the
compromised
credentials
across
numerous
websites
and
services,
seeking
a
successful
match.
5.
Rainbow
table
attack
During
a
rainbow
table
attack,
hackers
try
to
crack
hashed
passwords
by
leveraging
precomputed
tables
of
hash
values
for
possible
password
combinations.
Hashing
is
a
cryptographic
method
that
converts
plaintext
passwords
into
a
fixed-length,
unique
string
of
characters,
providing
a
layer
of
security.
A
rainbow
table
attack
allows
attackers
to
bypass
this
by
matching
the
hashed
password
with
its
corresponding
plaintext
password
from
the
precomputed
tables.
6.
Social
engineering
Social
engineering
is
a
manipulative
tactic
cybercriminals
employ
to
deceive
individuals
into
revealing
sensitive
information,
such
as
passwords.
By
exploiting
human
psychology
and
trust,
attackers
pose
as
legitimate
entities
or
authorities,
persuading
victims
to
disclose
personal
data
or
grant
unauthorized
access,
often
through
phishing,
vishing,
baiting,
and
tailgating.
In
most
cases,
it
is
far
simpler
for
an
attacker
to
deceive
you
into
revealing
your
password
than
to
crack
it
using
technical
methods.
7.
Man-in-the-Middle
attack
A
Man-in-the-Middle
(MitM)
traffic
interception
attack
occurs
when
a
hacker
intercepts
communication
between
two
parties.
By
positioning
themselves
between
the
sender
and
receiver,
the
attacker
can
eavesdrop,
manipulate,
or
steal
sensitive
data,
such
as
passwords.
Hackers
can
employ
various
techniques,
including
ARP
spoofing,
DNS
hijacking
and
SSL
hijacking,
to
insert
themselves
into
the
communication
stream,
thus
gaining
access
to
the
transmitted
information
without
the
victim’s
knowledge.
Typically,
these
attacks
find
their
way
through
unsecured
Wi-Fi
networks
or
connections
lacking
encryption.
8.
Physical
password
theft
Requiring
complex
passwords
can
tempt
users
to
write
them
down.
Thieves
may
physically
steal
passwords
by
rummaging
through
desks,
snapping
pictures
of
notes,
or
casually
observing
password
reminders
in
an
office
environment.
This
old-fashioned
method
of
password
theft
remains
a
threat
in
the
digital
age.
How
to
protect
against
password
attacks
With
countless
stolen
credentials
accessible
on
the
dark
web
and
numerous
security
reports
revealing
common
passwords,
cybercriminals
do
not
need
to
exert
much
effort
to
hack
you.
Hackers
typically
seek
easy
access
for
the
best
return
on
investment.
If
they
do
not
achieve
results
quickly,
they
will
shift
to
alternative
attack
methods
to
infiltrate
a
system.
So,
not
just
on
World
Password
Day
but
every
day,
commit
to
securing
your
accounts
by
following
the
advice
below:
Asset-level
security
measures
for
admins
-
Provide
cybersecurity
awareness
training
to
educate
employees
on
safe
digital
habits.
Foster
a
security
culture,
encouraging
prompt
reporting
and
periodic
reinforcement
of
best
practices. -
Create
password
rules
prohibiting
easy-to-guess
passwords,
such
as
incremental
patterns
or
previously
breached
passwords.
Require
a
combination
of
numbers,
special
characters,
and
upper
and
lowercase
letters
in
passwords.
Set
a
minimum
password
length
of
14
characters
or
longer
for
added
security.
Block
users
from
reusing
their
previous
username
and
password
combinations. -
Account
lockout
should
happen
after
a
set
number
of
failed
login
attempts,
suspicious
activity,
prolonged
account
inactivity,
or
evidence
of
a
security
breach.
Consider
creating
a
blocking
algorithm
based
on
other
metrics
like
source
IP
address,
user
agent,
or
cookie
value.
Consider
implementing
a
time
delay
between
login
attempts. -
Provide
multi-factor
authentication
(MFA)
as
an
option
for
users. -
Add
CAPTCHA
to
the
login
process
to
increase
the
time
it
takes
for
password
attacks
and
verify
that
login
attempts
are
made
by
humans,
reducing
bot
access. -
Consider
using
multiple
secret
questions
that
are
not
standard.
Ensure
that
the
answers
to
the
questions
are
not
easily
guessable
or
publicly
available.
It
is
recommended
to
periodically
update
the
secret
questions. -
Implement
secure
self-service
password
reset
(SSPR)
practices.
This
includes
verifying
user
identity,
using
verified
contacts,
limiting
attempts,
and
encrypting
the
reset
process
with
SSL/TLS. -
Implement
extended
detection
and
response.
XDR
provides
a
centralized
platform
for
monitoring
and
responding
to
security
threats
across
multiple
endpoints.
Using
XDR,
you
can
improve
visibility
and
quickly
detect
potential
password-related
attacks. -
Consider
switching
to
passwordless
authentication.
Here
is
a
list
of
some
common
methods:
–
Biometric
authentication:
fingerprints,
face
or
voice
recognition.
–
Security
tokens:
hardware
–
tokens
or
one-time
passwords
generated
by
a
mobile
app.
–
Public
key
cryptography:
digital
certificates/smart
cards.
–
Single
sign-on
(SSO)
via
social
media
accounts
or
other
third-party
providers.
–
Magic
links
or
URLs:
links
that
grant
access
to
the
account
without
a
password. -
Use
a
password
management
solution.
Password
management
solutions
offer
a
centralized
platform
to
store,
generate,
and
organize
user
credentials
securely. -
Enforce
the
practice
of
regularly
changing
passwords.
The
longer
a
password
remains
the
same,
the
more
vulnerable
it
becomes
to
hacking
attempts.
Additionally,
it
is
crucial
to
mandate
password
changes
after
every
data
breach. -
Use
salting
to
increase
the
difficulty
for
attackers
attempting
to
crack
passwords
using
rainbow
tables. -
Use
a
digital
loss
prevention
(DLP)
solution.
DLP
tools
mitigate
data
theft
by
continuously
monitoring
and
securing
sensitive
information,
including
passwords.
By
employing
advanced
data
classification
techniques,
DLP
systems
identify
and
restrict
unauthorized
access
or
transmission
of
passwords. -
Use
a
password
generator.
Password
generators
produce
complex,
random
passwords. -
Delete
inactive
accounts.
Getting
rid
of
excess
accounts
shrinks
hacker
targets
and
curbs
password
attack
success
rates. -
Consider
using
IDS/IPS
systems.
IDS
detects
password
attack
patterns,
alerting
security
teams.
IPS
auto-blocks
suspicious
login
attempts,
barring
system
access.
Individual-level
security
measures
for
regular
users
-
Avoid
reusing
passwords.
If
a
casual
discussion
board
you
have
signed
up
for
gets
hacked
and
you
use
the
same
password
for
a
corporate
account
or
an
online
banking
app,
you
could
find
yourself
in
serious
trouble. -
Do
not
share
passwords. -
Use
a
password
manager. -
Avoid
using
common
passwords
consisting
of
readable
words.
Instead,
create
long
passwords
with
a
minimum
of
14
characters,
or
consider
using
passphrases. -
Enable
Multi-Factor
Authentication
(MFA)
on
all
accounts
and
platforms
when
available. -
Use
up-to-date
malware
protection
and
routinely
scan
your
computer.
Ensure
that
antivirus
software
is
installed
on
all
your
devices,
including
smartphones
and
tablets. -
Use
a
virtual
private
network
(VPN).
A
secure
virtual
private
network
helps
protect
against
man-in-the-middle
attacks
that
aim
to
steal
sensitive
information,
including
passwords. -
Monitor
your
accounts
and
utilize
free
services
like
haveibeenpwned.com
to
check
if
your
mailboxes
are
associated
with
recent
data
breaches. -
Change
your
passwords
regularly.
The
longer
a
password
remains
unchanged,
the
more
likely
a
hacker
finds
a
way
to
crack
it. -
Stay
informed
about
cybersecurity
trends
and
learn
how
to
spot
phishing
attempts.
Examine
the
‘From’
line
in
every
email
to
confirm
the
sender’s
identity
matches
the
expected
email
address.
If
in
doubt,
reach
out
to
the
supposed
sender
to
verify
they
sent
the
message.
Be
wary
of
unsolicited
requests
for
personal
information,
and
always
verify
the
identity
of
anyone
asking
for
your
password
or
sensitive
data.
Exercise
caution
when
opening
links
or
attachments
from
unfamiliar
sources. -
If
available,
enable
biometric
authentication
on
your
devices. -
Utilize
a
password
generator
for
strong,
unique
passwords.
Stop
hackers
gaining
access
to
your
passwords
While
numerous
protective
measures
are
available
for
both
home
users
and
administrators,
password
attacks
often
continue
to
succeed.
This
is
primarily
because
security
can
be
inconvenient
and
requires
ongoing
attention.
Striking
a
balance
between
security
and
convenience
is
challenging,
and
many
people
tend
to
prioritize
convenience
over
security.
However,
the
potential
consequences
of
losing
critical
data,
facing
fines,
or
even
having
one’s
identity
stolen
serve
as
strong
motivation
for
both
individuals
and
organizations
to
prioritize
security
measures.
By
taking
a
few
simple
and
manageable
steps,
most
hackers
can
be
deterred.
To
enhance
protection,
consider
implementing
additional
security
layers.
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