Credential Stuffing: What is It and How to Avoid It

Credential stuffing might not be a phrase you’re very familiar with, but it is becoming one of the most common ways that hackers can take over your personal accounts. The ideology behind credential stuffing is that most people use the same login information on multiple sites, so if a hacker can obtain your username and password for one site, they can try to use it to access your other accounts. Since between 0.1%-0.2% of login credentials are used on multiple sites, this is a relatively successful cyberattack.

How Does Credential Stuffing Work?

The way credential stuffing works is relatively simple. Hackers gain access to username/password combinations via a website breach or password dump site. They set up a bot that is able to simultaneously log into multiple accounts while faking different IP addresses. Then the hacker uses this bot to test this login information on several sites, including social media, online shopping, email accounts, even banking or credit card sites.

Once they gain access, they’re able to take control of the account and all of the information stored inside. They can steal stored credit card information, sensitive personal information, and other confidential information. In addition, the hacker can use the account to send emails or create transactions, which can cause significant damage to your personal and financial security.

So how can you avoid falling victim to this? Here are some key tips:

• Avoid using the same username/password combination on multiple sites. While it might seem inconvenient to have to remember a different password for every site, it’s essential for your security. Additionally, there are tools such as LastPass that will securely store your passwords for you, and even automatically fill them in when you go to login to your accounts.
• Make your passwords as complex as possible. Utilizing a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols make it harder to guess. Also, make sure your password is as long as possible, and doesn’t include words like the name of your pet or spouse as this is easy information to guess.
• Whenever possible, enable multi-factor authentication, or MFA. This will give you an extra layer of protection when logging into your accounts by requiring you to verify that you’re the one logging in. This is usually done with a verification code via text or email, or by requiring you to answer previously established security questions.
• Change your passwords on a regular basis so even if your username and password become available to hackers, they won’t be able to use them to access your accounts.

Cybercrime is an ever-evolving industry, and hackers will always be looking for new and better ways to steal your personal data and sensitive information. By staying vigilant and implementing these tips, you can be confident that your accounts and data are protected. And if you have any questions about how you can improve your cybersecurity infrastructure, contact the experts at TAG Solutions and learn how we can keep your network and data safe and secure.