Although they are commonly used to secure online accounts, passwords are, in reality, quite vulnerable. This is largely because most people are complacent about their logins and fail to adequately protect them. For example, only 45% of respondents in the Google survey said they would change their password if it appeared in a data breach. All of this means that many internet users are susceptible to password hackers.
What is password hacking and why does it happen?
Password hacking is, essentially, cybercriminals stealing people’s passwords with malicious intent. Hackers use an array of means to accomplish this. Some might be very simple and involve in-person interaction, while others are far more sophisticated and require the use of tools, digital skills, and—in some cases—password hacking apps. In addition to the range of methods they employ, hackers have a variety of reasons for cracking passwords. For some, it is simply to know they can. However, hackers usually have more nefarious intents. For example, they might use hacked passwords for financial gain by extorting or blackmailing the owners, selling them on the Dark Web, or even using them directly to access bank accounts.
10 signs your password has been stolen
Password hackers have become ever-more devious, creating a multitude of ways that people’s credentials end up on hacked password lists. Many of these inventive processes are so subtle that users do not realize that they are the victims of password hackers, and cybercriminals have been able to access all sorts of private information by the time they find out. Because of this, it is essential that internet users learn to recognize the signs of password hacking. Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Suddenly being locked out of accounts: After stealing passwords, hackers often change login credentials that lock account owners out.
- Slow computer performance: This could be a sign that a hacker has managed to install malware on the device.
- Contacts randomly begin receiving strange messages, allegedly from you: Some cybercriminals use stolen passwords to access accounts and scam the owner’s friends, family, and acquaintances.
- Receiving messages about unexpected activity: Getting texts and emails asking for verifications, like password resets and multi-factor authentications, when these were not asked for.
- Being notified about data breaches: An inevitability of living in a digital world is that many companies fall victim to data breaches, which may expose client data—in this case, the company will notify clients of the breach and that their details may be on a hacked password list.
- Being redirected to strange websites: Another sign that hackers have installed malware on a device is if its browser suddenly starts redirecting the user to websites they are not trying to visit.
- Suspicious transactions: No matter how hackers get your information, they may try to use it to make financial transactions—keep an eye on bank and credit card statements to make sure there are no unauthorized charges.
- The webcam light is on: If a device’s webcam light is on when the user is not using it, a cybercriminal may have hacked the device and camera.
- Unexplained software: Sudden installation of software, plugins, apps, and the like could be a sign of password hacking.
- Protective software is disabled: The disabling of antivirus or antimalware software, or Task Managers, for example, could mean the device has been compromised by a hacker.
What to do if you’ve been hacked
Unfortunately, password hackers are a reality in a society that largely lives online. Most people, if they have not already, will eventually have their details released in a hacked password list, find that their login credentials have been taken through a password hacking app, or stolen through some other means. If—or rather, when—it happens, there are a few steps account owners can take to try and protect themselves, depending on the exact situation:
- Immediately change the passwords that have been compromised—and activate two-factor authentication if possible.
- Block credit cards or bank transactions if financial accounts have been hacked.
- Change the SSID and password on the Wi-Fi network.
- Disconnect any devices that may have been hacked through the Wi-Fi network.
- Scan potentially compromised devices for malware.
- If a phone may have been hacked, contact the service provider to lock the SIM card with a PIN to avoid sim swapping.
- Monitor accounts for suspicious activities, including logins from unusual locations.
- If social media or email accounts are compromised, let contacts know to disregard any unusual messages.
- Update all operating systems and software to ensure the latest security features are installed.
- Remove any linked accounts to prevent third-party logins with the hacked password.
How does a hacker know my password?
Most of us understand that our data is vulnerable while surfing the internet. But have we ever stopped to wonder, “how does a hacker know my password?”. The reality is that cybercriminals employ myriad password stealing methods, and understanding how phishers steal passwords is the first line of defense.
Data leaks
In 2022, there were 1,802 data leaks and breaches within the United States alone, affecting over 422 million people. Many data leaks occur within major industries, like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and companies such as Alibaba, LinkedIn, Facebook, Marriott, T-Mobile, PayPal, Twitter, and more. Usually, password hackers target vulnerable websites, breaching private databases and stealing the information contained for financial gain. The information taken is usually sold on the Dark Web or used to extort or blackmail. While stealing passwords is one result of a data leak, all sorts of personal information can be taken, from medical and bank records to private social media messages.
Phishing scams
Phishing is a type of social engineering and one of the most common password-stealing methods used by cybercriminals to access all sorts of personal data from an individual. So how do hackers get your information with phishing scams? They will usually send emails from a purportedly official source, such as a bank, eCommerce platforms like Amazon, or other service providers, containing a link to their “official website.” By following the link, users may be duped into unwittingly sharing data like logins or credit card information, or downloading malware which can then be used to steal personal information.
Fake “password resets”
Similar to phishing, how hackers get your information can be as simple as sending fake requests to reset an account password. For example, an account owner may receive an official-looking email asking them to reset the password for their social media account, Apple ID, or bank’s internet portal, for example, by clicking a link to a fake website. The hacker can access anything a user enters on this website, thereby stealing passwords and other details.
Malware infections
Malware is a malicious software that serves different purposes. As well as generally disrupting a device’s normal operations, malware is a popular password stealing method because hackers can use them to spy on and track individual devices, enabling password hacking and the stealing of other privileged information. Malware is usually installed through phishing emails, where users inadvertently download the software into their computers. Keylogging programs, which record every keystroke made on a computer, is a popular type of malware program for hackers intent on stealing passwords.
Brute force attacks
Sometimes, the answer to the question of “how do hackers get my email password” is down to luck, and this is certainly true of brute force attacks. In this type of password hacking, malicious actors use trial-and-error cryptographic hacking, deploying a wealth of potential password combinations to crack into email, social media, or other accounts with one different character each time. These work because many passwords are weak and easy to crack. A similar type of password hacking are dictionary attacks, which use a list of pre-set word and phrases that are known as common passwords. These are often successful because they work with automated programs and password hacking apps to run through billions of possible passwords each second.
Scouting through Open-Source intelligence
Even using unusual or personally relevant passwords might not entirely outwit determined password hackers. This is because of how many ways hackers have to get your information, including using Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT). This is when cybercriminals scour the internet for any available information about their target—such as on social media accounts—to find information that might be used in passwords, such as birthdates, kids’ names, or pets. They then use this information to try and guess the target’s passwords and break into their accounts.
Network analyzers
Some hackers use network analyzers—a tool that may function as a password hacking app—to harvest user logins. Because these tools monitor network data, hackers can intercept this and find certain details such as passwords and other information. However, to enable this, hackers would usually have to first implant malware on the device.
Wi-Fi hacking
Because Wi-Fi networks are very vulnerable, hackers can easily infiltrate them to track and steal data being transmitted through these connections. Essentially, the hacker becomes a middleman between the user and their network—usually through a fake website—and can then intercept all details.
Shoulder surfing
Perhaps the easiest of password stealing methods, shoulder surfing refers to when hackers see targets using their devices in public places—such as a café or library—and literally look over their shoulder to visually track their password. Although most of us do not think of this as how hackers steal passwords, do be vigilant of strangers in close proximity when signing into accounts in public spaces.
Credential stuffing
Although is not directly how hackers get your information, credential stuffing is one way that hackers can get passwords and gain unauthorized access to people’s accounts. The term refers to hackers stealing passwords for certain accounts and using them to hack into other accounts. One of the reasons this works is because people’s details often appear on hacked password lists for one of their accounts and, because they reuse their password on other accounts, the hacker is able to gain access to others. For example, if someone’s Instagram password is leaked in a data breach, a hacker might be able to use this to access their Facebook profile or email account.
How to prevent hackers from stealing passwords
After learning how phishers steal passwords, account owners should take steps to protect themselves. There are many ways to minimize the ability of cybercriminals to steal information, many of which are basic online safety tips that all internet users should be following. Here are some steps to take:
- Use strong passwords for each account – use a password manager, like Kaspersky Password Manager, to generate a strong, unique password for each account and keep track of them.
- Update passwords regularly.
- Be on the alert for phishing attacks—do not click any suspicious URLs in emails.
- Do not download email attachments or software unless you trust the source.
- Change the default SSID and password on Wi-Fi routers.
- Use two-factor or biometric authentication where possible.
- Use an antivirus software.
- Use a VPN to encrypt all online traffic.
- Ensure all software is up to date.
- Regularly monitor bank transactions and credit reports for suspicious and unauthorized activity.
- Try and use digital wallets, like Apple Pay or Google Pay, to make payments online to avoid entering credit card information.
- Maximize the use of privacy and security settings on social media, along with minimizing the amount of data being posted online.
Creating strong passwords to prevent hacking
If the best offense is a strong defense, then if follows that using strong passwords from the beginning is the best way to avoid password stealing. Here are a few things to remember when setting a password:
- Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts.
- Create long, complex passwords with at least eight letters.
- Try using phrases or sentences instead of one or two words.
- Use a combination of upper-case and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters like exclamation points.
- Don’t use personal details that are easy to find online, like birthdays and names of children or pets.
- Try not to use numbers or letters in sequence, like 1234.
- Get creative—use a combination of words and numbers that do not usually go together.
- Do not use traditional spellings—instead, substitute some letters with special characters, like ! for i.
How hackers get your information
For those wondering “how do hackers get my email password” or other personal details, the answer is that cybercriminals have a host of password stealing methods available to them. Understanding how password hackers operate allows internet users to be vigilant against these threats and deploy strategies to avoid these methods. Of paramount importance, though, is creating strong passwords and adhering to basic internet safety rules.
Kaspersky received nine AV-TEST awards for the best performance, protection, and usability for a corporate endpoint security product in 2024. In all tests, Kaspersky Security Products showed outstanding performance, protection, and usability for home and businesses.
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