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In the present world, hacking has become common. Hackers make a living by stealing information from unsuspecting individuals. Although most people believe that they are safe, the reality is that they are not. Their social media or bank account passwords are easy to hack. After all, they are weak.
There are several ways that hackers steal passwords:
Social engineering attacks
Social engineering attacks come in various techniques hackers use to obtain data. Some of them include:
- Phishing: Texts or emails trick users into thinking they are legit. Clicking on the email or text ink injects malware and directs you to a fake site.
- Spear phishing is the same as phishing, except it involves cleverly crafted emails explicitly tailored for you, with information the hacker has already gathered.
- Baiting: Hackers leave USBs or any other device infected with malware in public places or workplaces, hoping someone will pick them up and use them.
- Quid Pro Quo: The hacker does an impersonation, interacts with you, and tries to get information.
Brute Force
A brute force attack uses a program that generates passwords you are likely to use, even throwing in random special characters. The attackers try using the most commonly applied passwords, and if that does not work, they keep trying to guess. These programs try different variations, such as lower and uppercase. If you have a weak password, these programs will eventually crack it.
Dictionary attack
The dictionary attack relies on people’s tendency to use short passwords and commonly used words. The hackers get a list of commonly used words and try them, often inserting numbers before the words, after, or in between. Companies tend to have every username based on the employees’ names, so they are much easier for hackers to guess.
Key Logger attacks
If a hacker manages to sneak software into your device that tracks your keystrokes, the hacker can gather all your information. They can also know your username and password for each site you visit. This attack relies on the hacker gaining access to your device first.
How to protect yourself
After learning about hackers’ tactics, it is important to remain vigilant and take steps to protect your data. Fortunately, several ways exist to safeguard your information from these nefarious individuals.
Multi-factor authentication
Relying solely on strong passwords to secure your online accounts is no longer sufficient, as hackers use advanced techniques to crack them. Therefore, it is recommended that companies, in particular, implement additional security measures such as Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) or Two-factor Authentication (2FA). MFA requires users to provide extra information during login, such as a fingerprint scan. This additional layer of security makes it more difficult for hackers to impersonate an employee and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Use a password manager
A password manager generates and stores long, unique, random passwords so you do not have to remember them. You use a single password to authenticate the password manager, automatically updating the account login field.
In general, it’s recommended to use long and randomly generated passwords to make them difficult to guess. Many people use their techniques to create unique passwords by combining characters. While this can effectively prevent a brute-force attack, it may not be enough to protect against targeted attacks.
Installing a VPN
Installing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the best ways to protect yourself from hackers. A VPN creates a secure connection, such as public Wi-Fi, over an insecure network. It enhances security and privacy, granting access to censored content from different countries.
Confirm Links
Confirm links by checking if the first letters of the link start with https. The ‘s’ in HTTPS confirms that the site is secure. You can copy-paste the link directly into your browser instead of clicking on it.
Conclusion
Ensuring your WordPress is protected against hackers is of the utmost importance, particularly when you know their modus operandi. Hackers constantly upgrade their hacking techniques, but you can also proactively enhance your security measures to stay ahead. One way is to avoid clicking on suspicious links, as they are often used as social engineering tools. Additionally, it is recommended to install a password manager that can generate unique and random passwords that are difficult to guess, even by brute force.