How easy is it to guess a password?

60-Second Summary

Advances in AI and processing power have made password-cracking faster and more sophisticated than ever. Hackers use various techniques to crack passwords, exploiting common habits and advanced tools. Here’s an overview:

• Brute force attacks: Automated software tests all possible combinations until the correct one is found. Short or simple passwords are most vulnerable.
• Dictionary attacks: Hackers use lists of common passwords or phrases, making predictable passwords like “password123” easy targets.
• Credential stuffing: Reused passwords from past breaches are tested across multiple accounts, capitalising on user habits.
• Social engineering: Personal information like birthdays or pet names from social media can lead to informed password guesses.
• AI-Powered cracking: AI analyses patterns and predicts passwords, rapidly cracking weaker combinations.

AMCO’s Top Security Tips

• Use strong passwords: Make them 12–16 characters long with mixed-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid predictable patterns.
• Avoid reuse: Use unique passwords for every account to prevent breaches from spreading.
• Enable MFA: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication to add an extra layer of security beyond just passwords.
• Stay updated: Regularly update passwords to minimize risks.
• Leverage tools: Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.
• Train staff: Train employees on security best practices.

Learn more & get details

To learn more about this subject, read our team’s full analysis below . . .

How Hackers Guess Passwords

Hackers employ a variety of methods to guess or break passwords, ranging from simple human procedures to sophisticated automated systems. Here’s a summary of some of the more popular approaches:

1. Brute force attacks

A brute force attack involves a hacker using software to systematically test every conceivable combination of letters, numbers, and symbols until they get the right combination. While this approach is time-consuming, it works well for short or basic passwords. 

2. Dictionary attacks

These attacks rely on a pre-compiled list of regularly used passwords or terms from dictionaries. Many individuals choose easy and memorable passwords like “password123” or “iloveyou.” 

3. Credential stuffing

Hackers frequently depend on password databases that were obtained after earlier data breaches. Credential stuffing attacks exploit stolen credentials to gain access to other accounts, assuming that many users reuse the same password across various platforms.

4. Social engineering

Hackers don’t always require fancy tools to guess a password. They can generate informed guesses about passwords by analyzing information from social media accounts or personal conversations that contain common patterns such as pet names, birthdays, or preferred pastimes.

5. AI-Powered password cracking

Artificial intelligence has changed the landscape of password cracking. AI-powered systems can examine enormous databases of passwords and identify patterns such as frequent sequences, language trends, and human behavior. These robots may then create more accurate guesses, significantly lowering the time required to crack a password.

How to create strong passwords

To protect yourself against password cracking attempts, you must use strong and secure passwords. Here are some factors to keep in mind when creating a new password:

1. Choose a long password:

Passwords should be at least 12-16 characters long. The longer the password, the more difficult it will be to crack.

2. Use a variety of characters:

Include upper and lowercase letters, numerals, and special characters. Avoid using predictable patterns, such as “@” for “a” or “0” for “o.”

3. Avoid using common phrases:

Do not use passwords that are readily guessable, such as names, birthdays, or favourite hobbies.

4. Don’t reuse passwords:

Use different passwords for each account. Reusing passwords allows hackers to get access to several accounts following a single breach.

5. Use a password manager:

Use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords.

AMCO’s Recommendations

AMCO strongly encourages both people and organisations to take password security seriously. AI and current hacking tools have made it easier than ever for thieves to exploit vulnerable passwords. To keep ahead of these dangers, we suggest the following:

• Enable MFA: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to protect against password guessing attacks.
• Stay updated: Regularly update passwords to reduce the danger of illegal access.
• Educate your team: Train personnel on password security and phishing efforts.
• Monitor for data breaches: Use tools or services to verify if your credentials have been exposed and change them quickly if necessary.
• Invest in cybersecurity: Cybersecurity solutions guard against AI threats and keep systems safe.