{"id":553,"date":"2023-04-12T08:48:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T08:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/?p=553"},"modified":"2023-07-14T06:45:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T06:45:48","slug":"what-are-login-credentials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/articles\/what-are-login-credentials\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Login Credentials?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Whether you want to log in to a social network, check your email, or open a work-related app, you\u2019ll have to enter your login credentials first. They have become an integral part of our lives, but why do we have them, and what do they do? This article will explain everything you need to know, so let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Login credentials enable us to access any private or restricted system, account, or device at work, home, or on the web. At a minimum, they include a username and password.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not uncommon for a system to request additional verification using two-factor authentication (2FA) or a biometric scan. Modern phones and laptops may only ask for the latter, bypassing the need to deal with logins and passwords. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Common examples of login credentials<\/strong> are those used for logging in to social media platforms, bank accounts, software, and other web services. Hardware devices like smartphones and computers also require us to use secure login credentials <\/strong>to access them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We use credentials and login info to protect our data and accounts<\/strong> and restrict access to confidential private or company files. Constant logging in and verifying may be annoying, but it\u2019s necessary for our protection. Without it, anyone could access our personal data on a whim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having just any username and password isn\u2019t enough. They both need to be unique enough so that nobody can guess them easily. For example, the password \u201c123456\u201d is used by 23 million accounts<\/a>, and it\u2019s the first thing any cybercriminal will try. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using unique login credentials is essential in preventing such low-effort attacks from being successful.<\/strong> Here are some tips you can use to strengthen the security of your accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid using any personal information in your username or password<\/strong> because such info is usually easily accessible by any cybercriminal. They can employ social engineering techniques to obtain them, or they could get such info from a data breach that happened to one of the web services you use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why you should never use any personal info as part of your secure login credentials<\/strong>. You can always perform an online check to see if your email has been compromised<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each password you use should contain a<\/strong> minimum of eight characters, at least one number, one symbol, and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters<\/strong>. It may be difficult to remember such passwords, so many people use password managers instead. If that\u2019s not your thing, let\u2019s check out an example of making a password harder to crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s say we use \u201cdataprot\u201d as our starting password. A more complex version of the same idea could look something like this: \u201cD@t@Pr0T\u201d. It is the same word, but now it\u2019s much harder to guess or <\/strong>crack through automated brute force methods. The more characters, symbols, and numbers the password has, the harder it will be to break. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the same password, even a complex one, can create a serious security vulnerability<\/strong>. If one of the web services or databases gets hacked and the user data gets leaked on the dark web<\/a>, your email and password will be compromised. If you use the same user credentials elsewhere<\/strong> (say, on your email or online banking account), the attackers can use them to access all sorts of private data.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You should never, ever share your secure login credentials with anyone<\/strong>. Insider threats are one of the primary causes of company data breaches<\/a>. If you give your credentials to one of your co-workers or get tricked into believing that\u2019s what you are doing (hackers love phishing attacks), you\u2019ll still be held responsible for any data breaches that occur because of that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n User credentials are a valuable target for any cybercriminal.<\/strong> With them, they can access any system you have access to without raising any suspicion. There are several ways for them to steal or gain access to your account credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brute-force attack uses a trial-and-error approach to guessing the user’s security login credentials. It\u2019s a simple and reliable approach<\/strong> that requires time, but it can be sped up substantially with enough computer processing power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It shouldn\u2019t be confused with a dictionary attack<\/strong>, which is similar but uses dictionary phrases instead of random combinations like a brute-force attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phishing attacks are the most common form of cyber attack. There are multiple types of phishing attacks, but all of them have similar goals: to steal data or many, gain unauthorized database access, or get the victim to provide some kind of valuable personal or company-related information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any type of malicious software is called malware, and there are many different types you should know about<\/strong>. The ransomware malware is the most notorious kind, but it isn\u2019t the only one that can steal your data.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Malware can also infiltrate your machine and silently watch what you are doing while recording it and sending it to the attacker. This type of malware is called spyware<\/a> and is mainly used to steal your login credentials<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, install the best malware protection software you can find and keep your system up to date at all times. You can also use a password manager, two-factor authentication, biometric scans, or single sign-on (SSO) technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is the Purpose of Login Credentials?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Create Secure Login Credentials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Avoid Personal Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use Complex Passwords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Reuse Passwords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Share Your Credentials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Security Threats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Brute-Force Attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Phishing Attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Malware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Protect Against Malware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Password Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n