Have you wondered how hackers steal passwords? Unfortunately, we make it easy for them with weak passwords that are simple to crack. By simply taking advantage of low-hanging account passwords, hackers steal the most sensitive data to perform blackmailing, identity fraud, extortion, and other illegal activities.
The hacking of a user’s password might even be worse than personally identifiable information (PII) as it exposes the user’s online accounts. Email is often used to verify passwords and store information of other accounts, and a stolen email account password can lead to more cases of scams and identity theft.
Here’s how Hackers Steal Your Passwords
According to recent studies on data and identity theft, various small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) still believe that they are saved from hackers stealing passwords. Many believe their businesses don’t have as much precious data as larger companies and hackers won’t attack them.
There are many password-stealing methods that hackers use. If you are wondering how are hackers stealing my password, the following are the ways hackers steal passwords from an individual to an organization of all sizes.
Keylogger:
Another common method is to use a keylogger. This is a piece of software that records everything that is typed on the keyboard. The hacker can then use this information to try and guess the victim’s password. There are also many ways to guess passwords, such as using common words or phrases, trying easily guessed numbers (such as 123456), or using publicly available information about the victim (such as their birth date).
Purchase Passwords from Other Hackers:
Hackers can also buy lists of stolen passwords from other hackers via the dark web. These lists often contain millions of passwords, making it very likely that at least some of them will work. Consequently, it is important to choose strong and unique passwords for all of your online accounts.
Using Default Passwords:
Many devices come with default passwords that are easy to guess. Hackers can use these to gain access to devices and then look for ways to steal passwords from the people who use them.
Stealing Passwords from Public Wi-Fi Networks:
If you use a public Wi-Fi network, your password may be intercepted by someone else on the network. This is because the information sent over Wi-Fi networks is not encrypted, so it can be easily accessed by anyone who is on the same network.
Using Malware:
Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers. Some types of malware can steal passwords by recording what is typed on the keyboard. Other types of malware can take screenshots of what is being displayed on the screen, which may include login details or other sensitive information.
Social Engineering:
Social engineering is a type of attack that relies on tricking people into giving away their passwords. Hackers will often call or email people pretending to be from a legitimate company, and then ask the person for their login details. They may also try to trick people into clicking on malicious links that install malware on their computers.
There are many ways that hackers can get your password. The best way to protect yourself is to choose strong and unique passwords for all of your online accounts and to never reuse passwords. You should also enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to enter a code that is sent to your phone when you try to log in.
Brute force attack:
A brute force attack is a type of attack that tries to guess the password by trying hundreds or even thousands of different combinations. This can be very time-consuming, but if the hacker has access to a powerful computer, they can try millions of different passwords in a very short period. Brute force attacks are trial and error sessions done various times per minute using a specific program and your private information or words that may value to you.
It’s not all random words or information. Some extra advanced brute force hacking codes and programs use further targeted words that are possible to be used as passwords. These words are prioritized to make passwords with a greater possibility of matching.
Spidering:
This password-stealing technique gathers information from company sites or social media websites like Instagram or Twitter to come up with word lists, which are then used to conduct brute force and dictionary attacks on the users.
Rainbow table attacks:
Though it sounds like a board game, this kind of attack deals with hashes i.e., the encrypted values of passwords. The rainbow table includes pre-computed hashes of password parts that, when rightly joined, provide the full hash of the target’s real password. While the more professional approach to this attack could produce quicker results, it could also take up a lot of computing power to operate.
Phishing:
Phishing is one of the most common and regularly used password hacks. A hacker will send an email that carries a link that, once clicked, guides to a spoofed website that encourages the person to give their password or other information. In other scenarios, the hacker tries to trick the user to download a malicious program that skims for the user’s password.
Phishing is a method of tricking someone into giving away their password. Hackers will often send an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate website or company, asking the user to enter their login details. Once the hacker has this information, they can use it to gain access to the victim’s account.
Social engineering:
According to Hacker’s point of view, if all else fails, use the simplest trick in the book and do it the traditional way. Social engineering is the use of psychological manipulation to gain the trust of an unwitting user. For example, a hacker could drop a harmless thumb drive in an office. Shortly as a victim installs it (normally to obtain information that can help recognize and find its owner), the device will load malware onto the system to steal passwords.
How can I tell if my Facebook account has been hacked?
Hackers have discovered the findmyfbid.in password, hack to steal social media passwords. You may start receiving notices that a new account has been set up that is identical to yours and is sending out friend requests to your list of contacts. If you get a notification that someone has tried to log in to your account from an unrecognized device or location, this is also a sign that your account has been hacked. To check if your Facebook password has been compromised, you can use the Have I Been Pwned website. This website keeps track of passwords that have been leaked online and will tell you if your password is one of them.
If you think your account has been hacked, you should change your password immediately and enable two-factor authentication. You should also review your list of friends to see if any suspicious accounts have been added. If you find any, you should report them to Facebook.
What should I do if my email account has been hacked?
If your email account has been hacked, the first thing you should do is change your password. You should also enable two-factor authentication if it is available. You should then check your email settings to see if anything has been changed, such as the forwarding address. If you find any suspicious activity, you should report it to your email provider.
You should also check your inbox and sent messages for any unusual activity. Hackers often use hacked email accounts to send spam or phishing emails to the contacts in the address book. If you find any suspicious emails, you should delete them and report them as spam.
It is also a good idea to run a virus scan on your computer, in case the hacker installed any malware. You should also change the passwords for any other online accounts that you use the same password.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity includes the technologies, processes, and practices that are put in place to protect from cyber-attacks that are created to inflict harm against a network system or access data without authorization.
The most beneficial kinds of IT security for your company will offer a comprehensive solution to protect against a variety of issues. Ideally, your solution needs the following to include: firewall, antivirus, anti-spam, wireless security, and online content filtration.
What is Threat Monitoring?
Threat monitoring includes several different features. Commonly, this service consists of constant monitoring across all networks and vulnerability scanning of access points for any interruptions or signs of malicious activity.
From that point, any monitoring would let the administrator not only determine what is happening across the network at any given moment but also recognize any risks or breaches that are in place. While doing so the administrator could address system vulnerabilities and build a security protocol that will best address these weak points in your system.
Do You Need Security Threat Monitoring?
Apart from some very small exceptions, the answer is clearly YES. Any institution managing any form of financial information or client is a major target for cybercriminals. Neglecting your network unmonitored is the equivalent of being a sitting duck.
A typical misunderstanding that many small firms have is that their data is not precious to would-be hackers or just not worth their efforts or time. This mindset could make you an easy victim. One of the principal reasons you need cyber threat monitoring is because most cybercriminals take the path of least friction. You need to understand that you are facing the same cyber threats as large companies even though you probably have a fraction of the resources to deal with them.
A single cyberattack can cost you your business. Studies done by the National Cyber Security Alliance revealed that 60 percent of the small and mid-sized companies close after 6 months following a cyberattack. Companies that fall victim to hackers and cybercriminals lose their customers’ trust and their clients’ repeat business.
This is why spending on the services of a firm that handles cybersecurity for the company is a must-have investment. Let’s have a look at the reasons why you should partner with a cybersecurity provider like Cybriant right now:
1. Protect Your Business from Cyber Attacks
A cybersecurity provider’s main responsibility is to defend your business from all sorts of cyberattacks. They will deploy security solutions like the Endpoint Protection system to keep malware and hackers away. Their services revolve around actively updating your software and monitoring network activity to meet that end.
2. Identify Weaknesses in your Network Infrastructure
Your network likely harbors security vulnerabilities that will allow hackers entrance into your system. When you hire a cybersecurity company, one of the first things they’ll do is to examine every nook and cranny of your network for vulnerabilities. They’ll then report their findings to you and generate an action plan to plug these security holes and strengthen your network.
3. Provide Cybersecurity Training
If left inexperienced your employees can be your greatest vulnerability. According to the studies of Ponemon Institute 2018, human error accounts for 27% of the root causes of data breaches. Cybersecurity training will cut these percentages down as employees learn about correct cybersecurity hygiene and habits.
4. Update Cybersecurity Defenses
Cybersecurity companies will perform regular patch management on every device in the system. Each hardware in the network can house security vulnerabilities in their operating systems. The developers of these programs routinely “patch” these security holes and IT teams download and install these applications on their system devices.
Your cybersecurity partner will install these patches and keep them up-to-date to guard your network from malware that will exploit weaknesses.
5. Detect and Remediate Cybersecurity Issues
A cybersecurity provider will regularly monitor the processes within your system and keep an eye out for inconsistencies. They’ll also implement every method of scanning for malware and viruses within their arsenal to see if more modern forms of malware have sneaked their way into the infrastructure. If their detection programs find anything, they will quickly clean the malware and revive your system to its working condition.
6. Help Your Business with Compliance
As huge data breaches come into mainstream awareness, more and more authorities have started hefting the duty of protecting customer data onto corporations and businesses. They introduce laws to do this and fine entities which don’t comply.
A cybersecurity company will help your business meet these regulations by keeping your network up to date. They will also help you shape policies in your business around cybersecurity so you stay within compliance obligations.
7. Your Crisis Response Team
If unfortunately, a cyberattack happens, your cybersecurity firm will know exactly what to do. For instance, they’ll employ solutions. Should your corporation suffer from an ongoing data breach, they’ll immediately go into action to resolve the situation rapidly to staunch the bleeding.
Conclusion
As you can see, a cybersecurity provider can do a lot for your company. The true value of partnering with a cybersecurity company is that it will help your company progress by protecting business continuity and fostering an environment where employees can feel secure to work. A safe working atmosphere plus keeping your reputation clean can guarantee your business’ profit in the long term.
