Each year, data breaches damage hundreds of millions of accounts through malware, phishing, and other sorts of cyberattacks. And such accounts frequently end up on the dark web, where they are sold for a pittance on hacker forums.
The dark web is a collection of websites that can only be viewed through Tor, a unique type of browser. Users can engage in unlawful activities, including the selling of illegal narcotics, thanks to the system's anonymity and increased encryption.
These hackers now acquire a cache of stolen passwords and spam other websites with them until one of them succeeds, a tactic known as credential stuffing. Hackers will sometimes try a variety of passwords in order to gain access to your account.
Credential stuffing, according to Cyble, gave hackers access to over 500,000 Zoom accounts, which were subsequently released on the dark web.
The habit of most people to use the same password across several accounts, according to experts, is the biggest source of vulnerability. Many people do not change their passwords on a regular basis as well. Around 73% percent of passwords, according to Microsoft, are duplicates.
To prevent data breaches, Google updated its Chrome browser in December, introducing a system that will inform users if their usernames and passwords have been hacked. On a website called AmIBreched.com, Cyble also provides a service that allows customers to check if they've been breached. Similar services are provided by antivirus companies.
If your account has been compromised, the only thing you can do is change your password. Meanwhile, if your accounts are secure, you may prevent cyber attacks by simply making your password more complex and using a different password for each online account.
If you're worried about forgetting which passwords work for which accounts, password managers can help. This tool can store and encrypt several passwords, so you don't have to type them in every time you log in.
Using multi-factor authentication to prevent hackers from gaining access is another useful method. This security feature, often known as two-factor authentication, requires an additional external credential in addition to your password. A fingerprint or a one-time code, which is frequently sent through text, could be used.
When it comes to safeguarding their online accounts, users have a variety of options. Laziness and procrastination are the only things preventing them from doing so. In today's world, we must do everything we can to protect ourselves against cybercrime.
