Credential stuffing is a type of cyberattack. Hackers use botnets to try and access many different accounts by entering your user name and password, which were most likely obtained through previous data breaches. The hope would be that if criminals can figure out the password for one account, they might access another account using the same password. This cyberattack is becoming more popular because criminals can find tools that assist them in automating this attack, which decreases the amount of work they must do and increases their potential for success.
Credential stuffing uses automated scripts to repeatedly test stolen credentials against a single website or online service with the goal of unauthorized access.
For example, suppose an attacker uses password lists that contain stolen credentials for more than one website or online service. In that case, they can use automated scripts to test these passwords on many different websites. Or, if the attacker acquires the full user names and passwords for multiple accounts on one website or online service, they can try later to access any of those accounts on other websites or online services.
Credential stuffing is not a new attack method. Still, it takes advantage of the fact that many people reuse the same password on multiple websites, so once hackers have obtained someone’s login information for one website, they can try to use it to compromise their accounts on other websites. Hackers can automate this process with the help of credential stuffing tools that they can find online.
What are some examples of companies getting hacked?
Some examples include MySpace, Dropbox, Tumblr, Twitter, LinkedIn, VK.com, and DropBox. All these attacks resulted from credential stuffing because criminals used passwords from previously breached data to access accounts on those websites and services.
The dangers of credential stuffing
Hackers use credential stuffing to gain access to more than just your email and bank accounts. Once criminals have access to one of your accounts, they may be able to control additional accounts such as those that provide access to internet services like Google Fiber, data centers, web hosting companies, and other service-oriented businesses. If attackers can acquire the login information for your email or bank account, they can use it to reset your password and gain access to other accounts.
How do you protect yourself from credential stuffing?
Using a strong password is one of the best ways to protect yourself from credential stuffing. One way to create a strong password would be using a passphrase instead of a single word. Passphrases contain multiple words and can be more difficult for hackers to crack than passwords containing just one or two words found in the dictionary.
Some applications can help protect your accounts, such as Dashlane and 1Password. These applications generate strong passwords for each of your accounts and require you to enter a master password to access them, adding an added layer of security.
Many websites and services allow users to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for their accounts using applications like Google Authenticator or Authy. This process requires a username and password and an additional piece of information (usually generated through the application) to gain access to your account.
What can you do if your account is compromised?
Suppose one of your accounts becomes compromised because hackers accessed it using credentials from a data breach. In that case, you can contact the company that was breached and ask for your information to be removed from the list of stolen credentials.
It is also a good idea, if possible, to reset your password using a different email address than the one associated with the compromised account because hackers may try to take over your other accounts by trying to guess your new password.
How do you know if your password has been compromised?
If you use the same password on multiple sites and services, it’s a good idea to change those passwords not only on websites that require you to but also on others to be safe after a data breach occurs. If your username and password for an online service or website have been compromised, you can look for recent data breaches that were made public and search if your credentials were included in them.
If you find out that one of the websites or services that require your password was hacked and your username and password were exposed, it’s a good idea to change those credentials as soon as possible. Remember, all companies may not be at risk, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you think that your account was hacked because you started receiving spam emails or saw unfamiliar activity on your bills, change all of your passwords as soon as possible.
Why it’s essential to stay up-to-date on security updates and patches.
Since it is recommended that you change your passwords after a data breach occurs, not updating the software on your devices and applications will make this impossible. Each time a company or organization releases a patch for their software or operating system – whether it be Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X, iOS, Android, or Linux – they fix security vulnerabilities to help prevent criminals from hacking into your account.
Updating software is a simple process, but it could prevent criminals from gaining access to your accounts through vulnerabilities in the software and applications you use every day.
What else should you know?
In addition to using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, there are other ways you can protect yourself from credential stuffing attacks. When possible, use the “remember me” feature on websites and services. This will store your login credentials locally on your computer or device, so you don’t need to enter them every time you visit the site or service.
Another thing to remember is that browsers like Chrome and Firefox allow users to manage multiple profiles for different accounts. For example, if you have a profile for your email and another one for work, you can sign in to both of them simultaneously without having to switch between profiles every time.
This is useful because it means that you won’t need to enter your username and password into a different browser every day when other users are logged in under your account. You can also avoid having to type in your username and password whenever the remember me feature is enabled.
If you use Gmail, it’s a good idea not to sign out of any other Google services (i.e., YouTube, Google Drive) if somebody else uses your computer because this feature will automatically sign them into their account, which could lead to them gaining access to your other Google services.
Conclusion
It is essential to always use a different password for each account. This way, if one website gets hacked and the hackers have your login information from that site, they won’t access any of your other accounts because you used a different username and passwords on those sites. If you’re not sure how many websites or apps you’ve signed up for with the same email address or user name, as well as what those credentials are, now would be an excellent time to take inventory! Taking this simple precaution could keep your sensitive data out of nefarious hands.
