CYBER SECURITY
INTRODUCTION TO PASSWORDS – STUDY MATERIAL, DECEMBER 2021
Passwords
A password is a string of characters used to identify a user.
It can be sometimes a word, number, name, animal name and
so-on. We use passwords as a means of security to
authenticate a user and avoid giving access to an unauthorized
user. Password as a factor authentication method can be used
in smart devices like phones, laptops, iPad and so-on, we also
find passwords used in web applications as a means of logging
into our online accounts like Facebook and Gmail.
Passwords are either strong or weak. Weak passwords are
short (i.e. 5-8 characters in length) and simple to guess. Name
of a person, animal, a phone number, and even a pet’s name
are examples of weak and guessable passwords. A strong
password however is the opposite. Strong passwords are long
in length (i.e. 10 – 16 characters), they have all character
combination like numbers, letters, and symbols and are quite
difficult to guess.
Password Hacking
Password hacking is a term used to describe the process of
a hacker trying to obtain unauthorized access to a system
1
, belonging to an authorized user. Since passwords have been
introduced to IT, cyber criminals have always found ways to get
a hold of the passwords of other people in order to gain access
into the devices and accounts of the victims. The following are
ways in which passwords can be hacked,
Password Attack: Use of computer software or tools
Shoulder Surfing
Social Engineering
Inference
Password Attacks:
Password attacks involves the use of automated tools and
computer software’s to crack passwords. Two of the most
common ways automated tools work for password attacks is.
- Wordlists,
- Dictionary attacks and,
- Brute forcing
Wordlists: - Similar to dictionary attacks, wordlist involves use
of documents mostly “.txt” files which contain a numerous list of
randomly generated words or frequently used passwords. To
crack passwords.
Dictionary Attacks: - In a dictionary attack, every word in the
dictionary is used by automated tools to crack the password i.e.
2
INTRODUCTION TO PASSWORDS – STUDY MATERIAL, DECEMBER 2021
Passwords
A password is a string of characters used to identify a user.
It can be sometimes a word, number, name, animal name and
so-on. We use passwords as a means of security to
authenticate a user and avoid giving access to an unauthorized
user. Password as a factor authentication method can be used
in smart devices like phones, laptops, iPad and so-on, we also
find passwords used in web applications as a means of logging
into our online accounts like Facebook and Gmail.
Passwords are either strong or weak. Weak passwords are
short (i.e. 5-8 characters in length) and simple to guess. Name
of a person, animal, a phone number, and even a pet’s name
are examples of weak and guessable passwords. A strong
password however is the opposite. Strong passwords are long
in length (i.e. 10 – 16 characters), they have all character
combination like numbers, letters, and symbols and are quite
difficult to guess.
Password Hacking
Password hacking is a term used to describe the process of
a hacker trying to obtain unauthorized access to a system
1
, belonging to an authorized user. Since passwords have been
introduced to IT, cyber criminals have always found ways to get
a hold of the passwords of other people in order to gain access
into the devices and accounts of the victims. The following are
ways in which passwords can be hacked,
Password Attack: Use of computer software or tools
Shoulder Surfing
Social Engineering
Inference
Password Attacks:
Password attacks involves the use of automated tools and
computer software’s to crack passwords. Two of the most
common ways automated tools work for password attacks is.
- Wordlists,
- Dictionary attacks and,
- Brute forcing
Wordlists: - Similar to dictionary attacks, wordlist involves use
of documents mostly “.txt” files which contain a numerous list of
randomly generated words or frequently used passwords. To
crack passwords.
Dictionary Attacks: - In a dictionary attack, every word in the
dictionary is used by automated tools to crack the password i.e.
2
