As a defender of your organization’s security, you need to anticipate the tactics of attackers and fortify your castle walls. Hackers are constantly searching for weaknesses, whether it’s a weak password policy or a forgotten backdoor. To build a stronger defense, think like a hacker and anticipate their moves.
The worst passwords are often the easiest targets for hackers. Classic passwords like “123456” and “password” appear year after year, providing low-hanging fruit for attackers. These simple passwords can be cracked in mere seconds using modern password-cracking tools. In contrast, complex passwords that include different character types take much longer to break.
Two popular methods used by hackers to crack passwords are brute force attacks and dictionary attacks. Brute force attacks try every possible password combination, while dictionary attacks use a predefined list of common words or passwords to guess the right combination.
To manage password risk, promote good password hygiene among your users. Encourage them to avoid reusing passwords across different sites or accounts. Implement system safeguards like lockout thresholds and deploy strong password policies that enforce length, complexity, and change intervals.
Consider implementing passphrases instead of short passwords. Passphrases are a combination of unrelated words that are easy for users to remember but hard for hackers to guess. Identity-proofing measures, such as requiring users to verify their identity via email or SMS confirmation, can also add an extra layer of security.
By thinking like a hacker and taking these simple steps, you can defend your organization’s password security like a pro.
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2024/11/a-hackers-guide-to-password-cracking.html