How Do Hackers Get Your Password?

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We all know that hackers are always trying to find new ways to steal our passwords, but do you know how they actually do it? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most common methods used by hackers to get your password and what you can do to protect yourself. Stay safe online!

Unsecure Wi-Fi Networks

Public Wi-Fi networks (e.g. those used in airports, coffee shops, and hotel lobbies) are very insecure because they do not require a password. Hackers use this to their advantage and set up fake Wi-Fi networks that look like they belong to a trusted source (e.g. an airport’s network). They then trick you into logging in to the fake network by tricking you with what’s called a “man-in-the-middle” attack.

Weak Encryption And Lack Of PIN For Wi-Fi Router

Another way hackers steal passwords is by using weak encryption and a lack of PIN for your home Wi-Fi router. Hackers can easily break the encryption and access the connection between your computer and your Wi-Fi router without you even knowing it. This gives them free rein to not only collect data but also inject malicious software onto your computer which enables them to do other nasty stuff like accessing your webcam, installing a key-logger, and much more.

Unsecure Sites

Hackers also find ways to steal your password by taking advantage of insecure sites. These are websites that use an unsecured connection (HTTP instead of HTTPS) which is easy for hackers to break into. A hacker can be on the same network as you (e.g. at a coffee shop) and simply sniff the data sent over the insecure HTTP connection to get your passwords and other data.

Unknown Programs And Software

Sometimes hackers trick you into installing a program that they have created themselves. These programs can be used to track your passwords and other data, but more commonly their purpose is to install malware onto your computer which gives the hacker access to everything on your computer including all of its contents.

Your Approval Of Account Links To Unknown Sites

Some websites will ask you to approve an account link (e.g. on Facebook or Gmail), and the only way they can do this is if you’ve already created a connection between your account and their site or mobile app. So how do they get the OK to create the connection? They simply make it appear as though you’re about to create the connection yourself. This works because most people are just too busy to stop and check for red flags, so they simply hit “approve” without reading all of the fine print.

Revealing Your Mobile Number For Social Media Login

Most top social media sites require you to enter your mobile number when signing up for an account. This is because they use it as a security measure to help prevent fake accounts from getting created, but it also makes your data more accessible if someone gets their hands on your phone number.

Also Read: What Is The Hardest Password?

No Windows OS Upgrade Notifications Or Warnings

Finally, if not even Windows itself provides you with any kind of security warning when an upgrade is available, then obviously some hackers would have a field day with your computer. This allows them to install malware on your computer via critical security holes that are being exploited by Microsoft in their quest to constantly improve the Windows OS. This also makes it very difficult for you to know whether or not your computer has been compromised.

No Sandbox Mode In Web Browsers

A sandbox is a security mechanism that prevents an application from accessing files or folders on your computer, and it’s a good way of preventing malicious software from being able to access sensitive data. So why is this so important? Well, because most web browsers don’t have any kind of sandbox mode built-in! In most cases, this means that your web browser is vulnerable to malicious code.

Suspicious Email And Attachments

Even though you’re very careful with the emails that you open, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your computer is free from malicious software. Hackers often use social engineering to trick you into opening email attachments and websites which then download spyware or other types of malware onto your computer as soon as you access them, giving the hacker free rein to access everything on your computer.

Synchronized Data With Connected Devices

Many people access the same files on all of their computers and mobile devices, and this can be a big help when you’re working on different computers. The problem is that most types of data synchronization share your data with other people who don’t even need access to it. For example, Apple’s iCloud allows anyone to find your house using your mobile phone, even if they don’t have the password to get into it.

Conclusion

So, whether it’s an unprotected file with your passwords in it on one of your devices; software that you installed that gives the hacker access to all of your activities; or that one-time approval when setting up a new account, there are quite a few ways that hackers can get their hands on your data and then use it against you.