Credential stuffing is one of the usual reasons that companies give after a security breach. This malicious technique is popular among cybercriminals which allows them to gain unauthorized access to individuals' online accounts by reusing stolen passwords.
These days data breaches have become common as the dark web gets filled with various stolen credentials, ranging from email addresses and passwords to financial information and personal details. Using these stolen credentials, attackers will attempt to access multiple websites until they succeed.
Understanding the nature of credential stuffing and its mechanisms will allow us to mitigate the risks of security breaches. Individuals must also be responsible for safeguarding their online presence by arming themselves with cybersecurity knowledge.
Here are several reasons why you should learn about credential stuffing, especially with the increasing number of security breaches:
Protect Personal Information
Our online presence will always be connected with our identity. The majority of the websites that we access every day require us to input our personal information to create our personal accounts.
Learning about credential stuffing helps individuals understand the risk associated with using weak and reused passwords. Most of the time people are tempted to use the same password due to the possibility of forgetting them in the long run.
However, adopting stronger password practices and being aware of the danger of credential reuse will help individuals strengthen their protection with the personal information that they share with companies online.
Prevent Account Takeover
Compromised accounts that were attacked during security breaches are vulnerable to identity theft. Cybercriminals can steal sensitive information such as credit card details, social security numbers, phone numbers, and addresses.
Once compromised, these details could either be sold on the dark web to other criminals or be used to commit financial fraud. The stolen credentials can also be used to access accounts on various online services like social media where criminals can perform scams and other cyberattacks.
Maintain Business Security
Businesses and organizations are often targeted by cybercriminals due to their potential to make a large impact. Security breaches cause financial losses and reputation damages to these companies.
Employees should be educated about the vital role of strong passwords and the risks of credential use. They should also initiate providing cybersecurity activities that would help strengthen the organization's overall security.
Cybersecurity Awareness
Knowledge is power and an increased awareness about credential stuffing contributes to a more resilient online community. Internet is already part of our daily lives, hence, educating ourselves about certain threats to our online presence should be a must.
Individuals must familiarize themselves with the tactics used by cybercriminals and how to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses on their own. Companies should also encourage their users to use multi-factor authentication features and password managers.
Any extra layer of security can automatically lessen the risk of getting hacked even on security breaches. These additional measures will also reduce the overall impact of credential stuffing attacks.
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