If you use the same password for everything, you risk falling victim to a credential stuffing attack. How to Protect Yourself
Password misuse is one of the most vulnerable points of security for our personal and financial information. Many people share the same password for email, banking apps, social media, and online shopping sites. While this may appear convenient because it eliminates the need to remember multiple passwords, it is extremely risky.
If one of these passwords is compromised, it can be used to access a variety of other accounts, and it may be too late to fix the problem. Furthermore, this technique is known as credential stuffing, which exploits previously leaked credentials to attempt to access other accounts.
As cybersecurity firm ESET explained, this technique doesn't rely on randomly guessing passwords. Instead, cybercriminals use real usernames and passwords that were stolen in previous incidents, purchased from illegal marketplaces, or obtained through malware that extracts data from devices.
This process is fully automated, with attackers using automated programs (bots) along with other tools to test thousands of credentials on different websites. These systems can change their IP address and behave like ordinary users to avoid raising suspicion. To increase speed and reduce the likelihood of detection, they also rely on artificial intelligence tools.
The risk is significant due to the use of original data. This means that if someone reuses their password across multiple services, even a minor leak could escalate into a major problem, even if they haven't been targeted previously. Therefore, to avoid becoming a victim of credential stuffing attacks, ESET recommends following these tips:
- Do not use the same password for different services.
- Use a password manager to create unique and secure passwords.
- Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Check if the email address has appeared in any data breaches and change passwords if necessary.