What is password cracking?

In the modern digital era, password security has never been so pressing. Stronger passwords prevent cybercriminal activity, protecting personal accounts, sensitive data, and online identities. Unfortunately, even though awareness around cybersecurity grows, people continue creating weak passwords, thus providing easy opportunities for threat actors.

Password cracking refers to a process where one comes up with methods to guess or gain unauthorized entry into an account or system. Although there are various tactics, attackers use their own methods to crack a password, be it guessing or using advanced algorithms. How long it takes to crack a password depends on its complexity, length, and character combination.

Despite the increase in cybersecurity education, many passwords remain compromised. Knowing how password cracking works and what makes a password secure could help users better arm themselves against cybercriminals. This article discusses how cybercriminals crack passwords and how you can protect your accounts. Read on to learn about password cracking and keep your information safe.

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How does password cracking work?

Password cracking refers to the method of decrypting or guessing a password and haphazardly trying to gain unauthorized access to an account or system. Relying on the complexity of the targeted password, cracker methods may range from a simple trial-and-error path to intelligent algorithms attempting to hack the password.

The most frequent method is brute-force cracking, in which the cybercriminal systematically tries every combination of passwords until the correct one is hit. The success and speed of the hacking depend on the strength of the password. Weak passwords, such as “password” or “admin,” will be attacked faster and easier than password “wise0n3oh9elite” or similar ones.

Dictionary attack is another password-cracking method in which specialized precompiled lists of commonly used words, phrases, or previously leaked passwords are systematically tried. Unlike brute-force attacks, which test every possible character combination, dictionary attacks speed up the cracking process by targeting passwords people commonly use, like “password” and “123456,” or even personal phrases like “iloveyou.”

Modern password-cracking tools commonly use graphic processing units (GPU) and can test billions of password combinations overnight, making weak passwords highly vulnerable. Understanding how password cracking works highlights the importance of using strong, unique passwords to protect your online security.

Approximate time to crack your passwords

Password cracking hinges on checking many combinations until a correct entry is found. The amount of time needed to crack a password depends on its length, complexity, and the number of computers the attackers use.

Research from Hive Systems attempts to quantify which passwords can be cracked in what time frame. While more complicated passwords take longer to be produced, password length and complexity are the greatest factors in providing security. For example, an 18-character numeric password can be cracked almost immediately. In contrast, an 18-character password with all letters would take over 2 million years to crack.

But complexity alone doesn't guarantee security. The Hive Systems report also showed that the password cracking time for a 7-character complex password, consisting of a mix of letters, digits, and certain symbols, is a mere 31 seconds. On the other hand, a 15-character password with only lowercase letters can last up to 100 years before it gets cracked.

A study by Cybernews explored the 200 most commonly utilized passwords across the globe and estimated the time needed to crack each one. Most of the weakest entries, like “123456” and “password,” were cracked within just one second. In conclusion, weak passwords remain a major risk, and even now, countless users still use highly vulnerable names and passwords as credentials.

Can strong passwords be hacked?

Although crucial for cybersecurity, strong passwords are far less safe than they once were. The possibility of breaking through them still exists if enough time or computing power is involved. However, a highly complex 12-character password, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, would take up to 3000 years to crack. Since cybercriminals usually strive for efficiency, they are unlikely to bother with a single password.

So, even with the most sophisticated tools trying to break passwords today, a truly strong and unique password greatly reduces the risk of successful hacking attempts, particularly when combined with two-factor authentication (2FA).

To sum up, while cracking strong passwords is possible, it requires immense time, computational power, and advanced techniques, so malicious hackers typically target weak passwords.

What are the five most common passwords?

In a world where cybercrime is on the rise, weak passwords remain one of the biggest digital security risks, providing easy access to personal data. NordPass’ research on the 200 most commonly used passwords reveals that many internet users still choose predictable, easily guessable patterns, making them easy targets for threat actors.

Below are the top five most popular passwords in the US in 2024:

• secret
• 123456
• password
• qwerty123
• qwerty1

Malicious hackers can crack these passwords within seconds, so if you are still using such combinations, you should immediately change them. Keep your accounts secure by using long and complex passwords and combining more letters, numbers, and symbols.

How to prevent your password from getting cracked

With highly advanced cyberthreats, safeguarding your passwords becomes more important than ever. Password crackers systematically carry out attacks to steal personal credentials and to benefit from data breaches. Below, you can find valuable tips to secure your passwords and protect your online identity:

• Create strong, unique passwords. The password is your primary defense against security breaches. Do not be tempted to utilize common or easy-to-remember passwords like “123456,” “password,” or even your pet's name. Instead, opt for long, complex passwords containing a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Ideally, every single one of your passwords should be long and random.
• Enable two-factor authentication. Beyond the password, 2FA requires another piece of information – for instance, a unique code sent to your phone or email. Even if malicious hackers know your password, they won't be able to access your account without updating the secondary factor.
• Use a password manager. It's hard to keep track of all the strong passwords, so get a password manager like NordPass. Such a tool can automatically create, save, and fill in highly secure passwords without you having to remember a single one. For example, NordPass features a Password Health feature that monitors password hygiene and keeps your accounts secure by tracking weak passwords.
• Do not use passwords across multiple sites. Reusing passwords is a significant risk. If one of your accounts gets cracked, threat actors can use the same credentials to log into your other accounts using a classic credential-stuffing attack. You can prevent this by using password managers like Nordpass. They offer a password generation feature that creates unique and secure passwords for each website.
• Regularly change your passwords. By periodically updating your passwords, you greatly reduce your chances of exposure. Change them at least once a year or immediately if you notice something suspicious.
• Watch out for phishing attacks. Phishing lures can include fake emails, websites, and messages to get you to provide your login credentials. Whenever in doubt, hold off on entering personal information into suspicious sites.

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Final word on password cracking

Password cracking is a real threat to your cybersecurity, as threat actors can crack weak passwords in no time. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to take your virtual security to the next level.

First of all, aim to create strong passwords. The longer and more complex the password, the more resilient and resistant it is to password-guessing attacks. Second, don’t skip on utilizing two-factor authentication and a reliable password manage to secure your accounts against all sorts of data breaches.

Please note that it is essential to continuously be on high alert and take action toward better protection. Always avoid using common passwords, frequently change your passwords, and do not fall for phishing attacks to remain ahead of malicious hackers and avoid risking the loss of your personal data.

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