Step 1: Sign up for and download a reputable, end-to-end encrypted password manager.Therefore, the best solution is to use an encrypted password manager to create unique, randomly generated passwords. You will never create a sufficient variety of passwords for all your accounts that are both memorable for you and strong enough to prevent it from being hacked. (new window) How to create a strong password Learn about how to prevent phishing attacks. Other common attack methods depend on tricking you into giving away your password or getting you to install keylogging malware on your device. Thus, even a password like “Pr0tonmai1#%$” is relatively predictable and could conceivably be hacked. Dictionary attacks can be programmed to anticipate a large number of variations. The shorter the password, and the fewer types of characters, the less time it takes to brute force.Īnother method, called a dictionary attack (new window), saves time by trying common words, character substitutions (e.g., “3” instead of “E”), numbers, and combinations (e.g., a pet name plus a six-digit date). This process is slow, but perhaps not as slow as you’d think. ![]() One method, called a brute force attack, tries every possible combination of characters, starting with “0000000”, “0000001”, and so on. ![]() A powerful computer can test billions of character combinations per second. To convert the hashes to plaintext passwords, all they have to do is run different passwords through the hash function and see if the hashes match. If it matches, you get access to your account.ĭata breaches (new window) have become common, and hackers often get their hands on a big database of hashes. The next time you enter your password to log in to your account, the password is again converted to a hash and compared to the hash in the database. That way, if the user database is ever leaked or breached, plaintext passwords are not exposed. When you create a new account with an online service, the password you create is passed through a special algorithm (a cryptographic hash function (new window)) and converted into a seemingly random string of letters and numbers, known as a hash. Therefore, your goal is to create a password that will be difficult for a hacker with a powerful computer to crack, while also being simple enough to memorize.Ī password is a way to confirm a user has permission to access an account or device. If you use a weak password, hackers can extract it from even a cryptographically secured database along with all the other weak passwords. The danger is not that a hacker will target you, but rather that your password will be part of a larger data breach (new window). You may be thinking that no hacker would bother targeting you personally, and you’re probably right. But first it’s helpful to understand a bit about how online services use passwords to manage account access and how hackers can steal your credentials.Ĭontents: How hackers steal passwords 3 steps to create strong passwords Safety tips FAQ How passwords are stored – and stolen This article will explain how to create a strong password, along with some additional advice on how to keep your passwords secure. “Challenger” is a common base word, and the modifications are fairly simplistic. And yet a hacker could quickly crack it using a dictionary attack (see below). Sure, it mixes upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters, like you’re often advised to do when creating a password for a new account. But did you know a password like is not much more secure? You probably already know some obvious password safety tips, like don’t use “password” as your password. Fantasy Username Generator: Create creative usernames that are perfect for RPG games and forums.Last update on OctoPublished on March 19, 2019.TikTok Name Generator: Come up with the perfect username for TikTok based on your real name or keywords.Roblox Username Generator: If you play Roblox, this generator suggests usernames based on keywords, styles (e.g., Animals, Aesthetic), and hobbies.Instausername: This Instagram-focused username generator creates unique usernames based on a keyword you enter.NordPass Username Generator: Another general random username generator with plenty of customization options. ![]()
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