Credentials
Credentials are a set of information that verifies a user’s identity and allows them access to data, an online service, a device, or a resource, like a server or network. They help ensure that login attempts come only from legitimate users, preventing unauthorized access.
Types of Login Credentials
- Username and password: Combine a public identifier (username) with a password, which can be a word, phrase, or combination of characters that only the user knows.
- Biometric authentication: Relies on unique physical traits to verify someone’s identity, like a fingerprint, face scan, or voice recognition.
- One-time password (OTPs) or code: Generates a unique code or password via hardware tokens or authentication apps on a device, which is entered as an additional login step.
- Magic links: Involves a user entering their email address into a login box and receiving a link via email that they use to confirm their identity.
Advantages of Login Credentials
- Strong security: Ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive data and services.
- Compliance: Allows organizations to comply with security regulations and standards, like GDPR.
- Accountability: Helps track user activity by identifying who accessed a specific resource at what time.
Common Threats to Login Credentials
- Brute-force attacks: Cyberattacks that try all possible password combinations until they find the right one using special programs.
- Phishing: Attacks designed to trick victims with social engineering or malicious links to steal their login credentials.
- Malware: Software that infects a user’s device and steals data (like passwords), logs keystrokes, or allows remote access to the system.
- MITM attacks: Techniques that let an attacker intercept a connection to spy on inputted credentials or mimic a legitimate login page.
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FAQ
A login credential can be a password used alongside a username, but it can also take other forms. For example, it could be a one-time code received over email, a magic link that a user accesses to verify their identity, or a biometric login (like a fingerprint or face scan).
Yes, cybercriminals can use different attacks to steal login credentials. Examples include man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks that might redirect users to fake login pages, phishing attempts that trick people into exposing their passwords, or malware infections that log credentials as they’re typed.
Create and use strong passwords. They should have at least 12 characters and be a whole phrase or a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. In addition, set up a different login for each account and enable multi-factor authentication for extra security. Also, installing an antivirus can protect against malware attacks, while a virtual private network (VPN) helps secure internet traffic.
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