Real Life Examples of Username and Password Security Breaches (Explained Simply)

Quick Study Guide

• 🔑 Password Cracking: Attackers use software to guess passwords. Common techniques include brute-force attacks, dictionary attacks, and rainbow tables.
• 🎣 Phishing: Deceptive emails or websites trick users into revealing their credentials.
• 💾 Data Breaches: Large-scale leaks of usernames and passwords from company databases due to hacking or security vulnerabilities.
• 🛡️ Mitigation: Use strong, unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and be cautious of suspicious emails.
• 🌐 Common Vulnerabilities: Weak password policies, unencrypted data storage, and outdated software.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a common method used in password cracking?

   1. A. Two-factor authentication
   2. B. Brute-force attack
   3. C. Encryption
   4. D. Firewall protection

2. What is phishing?

   1. A. A type of fish
   2. B. A social engineering attack to steal credentials
   3. C. A method of encrypting data
   4. D. A hardware security device

3. What is a data breach?

   1. A. A small crack in a computer screen
   2. B. Unauthorized access and disclosure of sensitive data
   3. C. A type of antivirus software
   4. D. A secure method of data transfer

4. Which of the following is a good way to mitigate password security risks?

   1. A. Using the same password for all accounts
   2. B. Sharing passwords with trusted friends
   3. C. Enabling two-factor authentication
   4. D. Disabling firewall protection

5. What is a common vulnerability that leads to username and password breaches?

   1. A. Strong password policies
   2. B. Encrypted data storage
   3. C. Outdated software
   4. D. Frequent security audits

6. Which of the following attacks involves using precomputed hashes to crack passwords?

   1. A. Rainbow table attack
   2. B. Watering hole attack
   3. C. Man-in-the-middle attack
   4. D. Denial-of-service attack

7. What does 2FA stand for?

   1. A. Two-Factor Authentication
   2. B. Total Firewall Access
   3. C. Top-Frequency Algorithm
   4. D. Transistor Functionality Array